b*&&tejt    L 

f 


f^ 


¥Z?L<L<U_ 


^LL. 


@^s^^ti-,l§  J  ? 


:¥  1 


c 


r>« 


% 


DEADLY   ENCOUNTER  WITH  THE  SWORD  AND  THE 

MACHETE. 

The  Machete,  to  which  constant  references  are  made,  is  the  implement 
used  in  cutting  sugar  cane.  The  weapon,  however,  is  longer  and  narrower 
<han  the  ordinary  machete,  and  is  very  deadly  in  the  hands  of  the  insurgents. 


SW5ST 


fl  K      / 


WA* 
!//M\- 

'•• m: 


CUBAN    PATRIOTS    FIGHTING    FROM    THE    TREE    TOPS. 

Concealing  themselves  in  the  tops  of  palm  trees,  the  insurgents  make 
attacks  as  represented  in  the  engraving.  This  mode  of  warfare  is  adopted 
for  the  purpose  of  concealment  from  the  enemy,  and  with  practised 
riflemen  is  most  destructive. 


THE  WAR  IN  CUBA 


BEING  A  FULL  ACCOUNT  OF  HFR  GREAT 

STRUGGLE  FOR  FREEDOM 

CONTAINING 

A  COMPLETE   RECORD  OF  SPANISH   TYRANNY  AND  OPPRESSION: 

SCENES   OF   VIOLENCE    AND  BLOODSHED;    FREQUENT 

UPRISINGS  OF  A  GALLANT  AND  LONG  SUFFERING 

PEOPLE;  REVOLUTIONS  OF  1868,  '95-'96. 

Daring  Deeds  of  Cuban  Heroes  and  Patriots 

THRILLING   INCIDENTS  OF   THE   CONFLICT;    AMERICAN    AID    FOR 

THE  CAUSE  OF  CUBA;  SECRET  EXPEDITIONS;  INSIDE 

FACTS  OF  THE  WAR,  ETC.,  ETC. 

TOGETHER  WITH  A  FULL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

CUBA,  ITS  GREAT  RESOURCES;  PRODUCTS  AND  SCENERY  OF  THE 

"QUEEN   OF   THE   ANTILLES;"    MANNERS   AND 

CUSTOMS  OF  THE  PEOPLE,  ETC.,  ETC. 

BY 

Senor  GONZALO  de  QUESADA 

Charge  cT Affaires  of  the  Republic  of  Cuba,  at  Washington,  D.  C 

AND 

HENRY  DAVENPORT  NORTHROP 

The  \veU-kno\vu  author 


Embellished  with  a  large  number  of  Beautiful  Phototype 
and  Wood  Engravings 

LIBERTY  PUBLISHING  CO. 

PUBLISHERS. 


LOAN  STACK 


Entered  according  ?.u  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1896,  by 

W.     R.     VANSANT, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
All  Rights  Reserved. 


(7 


922 


tin 


TO    THE 

ARMY  OF  CUBAN  PATRIOTS, 

WHO   ARE 

SACRIFICING  THEIR  LIVES  IN  THE  CAUSE  OF  FREEDOM 
THIS  VOLUME  is 

DEDICATED 

WITH  THE  HOPE  AND  BELIEF  THAT 

THEIR 

GREAT  STRUGGLE  FOR  INDEPENDENCE 
WILL  BE  CROWNED  WITH  SUCCESS. 


APPEAL  TO  AMERICANS. 

By  a  Lieutenant  from  the  Cuban  Army. 


.  0 

Aru^ft,  ^vux  wtA.  v 


.  <t  L 

it   itf*  v"  v    ^  jl1*^   g  o  j  o     j     '  i    '  o 

A  A  \  i  W  r    I       &       *  tP  J  * 

«v\A    "Vfflyvrc.     OU\AWU      (NP    AM/u    >\^  (j^nu/o/I/uio^U  -^   A;U>UA.G?/U^A/Q, 

I.  -w,<Ja«.  ^w"Vu/    UtoA\M.C</j.  1»   u 

ji     o          (jj  A      ri  .    ^  .     *  ojP  ^/ 

-^L         \    il    oukvOM,     3i,  f/ 

'kAouU  fi  ^Cu  rwork 

^A     ^/6^JLW*^'Cc/     O^WCw     «,-.-..,-^.--.  _ 

HfO        .  J  fl         L^fjj  0 

/Tv"vl»    v^yxA/^y  v€*     ^Asf  V^ O/ ^Afix   ft  'vft'VX^"   »i/Oi>T'« 

v    /    \  $    n  '  'N     D      v<f  -  j9y   iS'  n     /L 

A  0  ^J.  ^^ 

-•drylT    -Loilu 

^'      '  lj     . 

>V\T   acrvv 

v     *' 


ft,     vux  wtA.  v  7(9         /}/ 

}(TOW^U^/00     jOCX^tTU/ 

ft  n(W    Oito'uw.«AA,t  D/ra^Li  Oa  \ 

u,    J^nnuJ 


PREFACE. 


THE  eyes  of  the  whole  world  are  turned  toward  Cuba,  eagerly 
watching  her  Great  Struggle  for  Freedom.  The  American 
people  recall  the  long  and  gory  conflict  that  made  this  a  free 
and  independent  nation.  Their  hearts  beat  high  and  their  blood 
grows  warm  as  they  read  of  Cuba's  gallant  fight  for  Independence. 

The  Cuban  people  have  the  same  reason  for  their  Great  Revolu 
tion  that  America  had  when  she  threw  off  the  yoke  of  oppression. 
For  long  ages  the  beautiful  "  Queen  of  the  Antilles  "  has  suffered 
under  the  curse  of  Spanish  tyranny  and  injustice.  She  has  been 
robbed  and  impoverished.  Just  rights  have  been  denied  to  her  peo 
ple.  Repeatedly  and  gallantly  she  has  fought  to  be  free  and  has 
poured  out  her  blood. 

The  whole  tragic  story  is  contained  in  this  very  comprehensive 
volume.  The  reader  follows  the  silver-starred  flag  of  the  Cuban 
Patriots  which  waves  from  one  end  of  the  Island  to  the  other.  He 
sees  an  army  of  heroes  fighting  as  Spartans  fought  at  Thermopylae, 
as  sturdy  Scots  fought  at  Bannockburn,  as  the  brave  souls  in  our 
own  Revolution  fought  at  Bunker  Hill  and  Yorktown. 

PART  I.  treats  of  the  Great  Insurrection.  Spanish  brutality  and 
injustice  are  pictured  as  they  really  are,  and  the  reader  fully  under 
stands  why  Cuba  demands  Independence  from  the  atrocious  rule  of 
the  haughty  Castilian. 

In  a  speech  on  the  Cuban  question,  Congressman  Robert  R.  Hitt, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs,  used  the  following 

stirring   words  :  "  Americans,  who   are   descendants   of  those  who 

iii 


iv  PREFACE. 

struggled  through  a  contest  against  tyranny  like  that  now  being 
waged  in  Cuba,  cannot  be  false  to  the  memory  of  their  fathers  nor  to 
the  traditions  and  spirit  of  their  history." 

In  this  volume  the  opening  scenes  in  the  beginning  of  the  war  are 
vividly  depicted.  Then  comes  General  Campos  from  Spain,  with  his 
Army  of  75,000  troops.  All  the  stirring  incidents  of  the  conflict  are 
pictured  in  glowing  colors — the  successes  of  the  Patriot  Army,  the 
downfall  of  General  Campos,  the  arrival  of  General  Weyler,  secret 
expeditions,  and  pathetic  stories  of  the  war. 

PART  II.  contains  the  complete  History  of  Cuba  from  its  discovery 
by  Columbus  to  the  present  time.  Striking  portraits  are  given  of 
the  early  Spanish  rulers,  and  all  the  great  events  are  vividly  depicted. 
The  story  of  Marti,  the  conspiracy  of  Lopez,  the  slaughter  of  the 
crew  of  the  "  Virginius,"  are  told  in  all  their  thrilling  details. 

PART  III.  gives  a  picturesque  description  of  Cuba,  one  of  the  love 
liest  gardens  of  the  Tropics.  This,  like  every  other  part  of  the 
work,  has  a  peculiar  charm  to  all  readers.  They  behold  the  natural 
scenery  of  the  far-famed  Island ;  they  see  the  people  in  their  native 
homes  ;  they  learn  all  the  manners,  customs,  peculiarities  and  charac 
teristics  of  the  Cubans,  and  find  at  the  close  of  this  most  instructive 
volume  that  they  have  made  a  journey  through  every  part  of  the 
"  Queen  of  the  Antilles." 

This  work  stirs  anew  the  sympathy  of  the  American  people  for  the 
brave  Cuban  Patriots  who  have  resolved  to  free  their  beautiful  Island 
from  the  oppression  under  which  it  has  long  suffered  and  bled. 
The  conflict  has  been  waged  before,  but  never  with  such  grim  resolu 
tion  and  heroic  bravery.  The  day  of  victory  is  not  far  distant 

"  Freedom's  battle  once  begun, 
Bequeathed  from  bleeding  sire  to  son, 
Though  baffled  oft,  is  always  won." 


CONTENTS. 


PART  I. 

The  Great  Insurrection  in  Cuba. 
CHAPTER  I. 

TAGB 

THE  LONG  STRUGGLE  FOR  INDEPENDENCE 17 

CHAPTER  II. 

^/SPANISH  TYRANNY  AND  INJUSTICE 28 

CHAPTER    III. 

WHY  CUBA  DEMANDS  SELF-GOVERNMENT 42 

CHAPTER   IV. 

•s/  BEGINNING  OF  THE  WAR 67 

CHAPTER  V. 

INSURGENT  CAMPAIGN  IN  WESTERN  CUBA 66 

CHAPTER  VI. 

DOWNFALL  OF  GENERAL  CAMPOS 73 

CHAPTER   VII. 

^GENERAL  WEYLER  IN  CUBA 85 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

HORRIBLE  STORY  OF  BARBARITY , 96 

vii 


viii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   IX. 

PACK 

MEN  AND  ARMS  FOR  CUBA  ......................    103 

CHAPTER  X. 

IMPRISONMENTS  AND  MASSACRES  ..................    114 

CHAPTER   XI. 

FREEDOM  FOR  CUBA  .........................    127 

CHAPTER   XII. 

SPANISH  INSULTS  TO  THE  AMERICAN  FLAG  ............    136 

CHAPTER   XIII. 
HORRORS  OF  MORRO  CASTLE    ....................    142 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

STIRLING  INCIDENTS  OF  THE  CONFLICT  ..............    161 

CHAPTER    XV. 

PATHETIC  STORIES  OF  THE  WAR    ............       .....    16f 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

SUCCESSES  OF  THE  REVOLUTIONISTS 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

PEN-PICTURES  OF  THE  WAR  .    .  •  ...................    187 

CHAPTER   XVIII. 

SIDE-LIGHTS  UPON  THE  STRUGGLE  .................    20? 

CHAPTER   XIX. 
THE  UNITED  STATES  TO  THE  RESCUE   .  .    283 


CONTENTS.  ix 


PART    II. 

History  of  Ouba  and  Spanish  Misrule. 
CHAPTER    XX. 

PAGB 

EARLY  COLONISTS  AND  RULERS 257 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

WAR  WITH  GREAT  BRITAIN 277 

CHAPTER   XXII. 

THE  TYRANNICAL  RULE  OF  SPAIN 295 

CHAPTER   XXIII. 

A  WILY  OLD  GENERAL _  ...    306 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 

RECORD  OF  ATROCIOUS  DEEDS 817 

CHAPTER   XXV. 

STORY  OF  MARTI,  THE  SMUGGLER 334 

CHAPTER   XXVI. 

THE  CONSPIRACY  OF  LOPEZ 340 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 

THE  BITTER  TEN  YEARS'  WAR 857 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 
BUTCHERY  OF  THE  CREW  OF  THE  "VIRGINIUS"  .  ,    407 


*  CONTENTS. 

PART  III. 

Picturesque  Cuba.   Manners  and  Customs  of  the  People. 
CHAPTER   XXIX. 

MOB 

FIRST  IMPRESSIONS  OF  THE  ISLAND 878 

CHAPTER   XXX. 

CURIOUS  SIGHTS  iIJ  HAVANA  <*«a 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

FAMOUS  LOCALITIES  AND  BUILDINGS 400 

CHAPTER   XXXII. 

CELEBRATED  AVENUES  AND  GARDENS 413 

CHAPTER   XXXIII. 
SUGAR-MAKING  IN  CUBA 426 

CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  FAR-FAMED  MATANZAS  .  .    439 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 
A  QUAINT  OLD  TOWN 456 

CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

HERE  AND  THERE  IN   CUBA 46fl 

CHAPTER   XXXVII. 

LIFE  IN  THE  COFFEE  MOUNTAINS 479 

CHAPTER   XXXVIII. 
RURAL  LIFE  AND  CUSTOMS t  „ 497 

DISTINGUISHED  CUBAN  PATRIOTS 513 

APPENDIX  OP  LATEST  EVENTS  IN  CUBA  .    545 


WAR-SONG  OF  THE  CUBAN  PATRIOT& 


HIMNO  BAYAMfe. 


Al     corn-bat  -  te       co-rred  ba  -  ya-me    - 
To     the  com  -  bat  rush  on  -  ward  Cu  -  ban    - 

I       4 


:J: 


•*— 


m 


1=4 


S 


-  ses/  Que    la 

-  os,  That  our 


m 


3  — 

p 

—  ft-h-  -j  — 

—  \—  t 

_P      i*    L_Si 

—  ^~ 

j  i 

*    '      *       \            \> 

m         S2 

j         r\ 

—  i^~| 

S32 

L/        k 

*     1 

"  • 

t/ 

^ 

^*.- 

^a  - 

^ria     os  com-tem-pla 

or  -  #w^o 

-      - 

aos;      No 

^e 

land 

may  with  pride 

look 

up  -  on 

you.     Fear 

iu 

j 

-^ 

J£ 

1  —  '  

£t 

T 

fe)«  , 

N 

1=          ~<J 

r 

M 

^ 

h 

^^-?- 

—  1  - 

1 

^-j  

-•^•B.  

E  —  h 

mais     u    •    net  muer  -  te       glo  -  rio 
death     naught    that       Is       glo  -  ri 


'--9— 


i 


sa      Que     mo  - 
ous ;    For       to 


HIMNO  BAYAMES.    Concluded. 


^g^E^r^F^ — F.nrN^^^H^ 

y^-+= — * — #-| — +s-jt+& — ^r^^-^-«-J!=^---:jy: 


En   ca-  de  -  nas  vi  -  vir  es  -  mo  - 
die  for  one's  country's  to  live ;          Life  in  chains  is  naught  else  but 

'_£ .-£- 


fe£— 3— t 
^^= 


— t=: 


* =M    r— — *— t 1 


rfr, 
death; 


?==f- 


*SE=£±=fc 


En      o  -  pro      bio      y      a- fren -ta     su- 
In  what  shame  and    in -suit   are  we    not 


if zJir— —T: 

t IZE^EEEE 


^^ 


m 


so  - 


do,     Del      cla  -  rin       es   -    cu-chad      el 
bled,   Now     the    bu  -    gle,    Hear  you    not      the 


t=t 


-^ 

:fc= h 


ni      -      do,     A     las  ar  -  mas  va-lien  -  tes     co-rred. 
call, Then  to  arms  val-iently  and     to   field. 


'£"3 

03    -i 


•3   u 

E3 


flj 

"£  °> 

o  2 

•  rd  bo 

CO   .t!  s 


§   a  8*8 
O  I  Si 


5 


^.a  S 

•s  It 

5  ^  « 

5    ^   n 


PARTI. 

The  Great  Insurrection  in  Cuba 


CHAPTER   I. 
The  Long  Struggle  for  Independence. 

'HE  most  glowing  pages  of  history  are  thore  that  record  the 
proud  achievements  of  patriots  and  heroes  to  gain  national 
liberty  and  independence.  Sparta  had  her  Thermopylae. 
Scotland  had  her  Bannockburn  and  immortal  Bruce.  America  had 
her  Revolution,  her  Bunker  Hill  and  Yorktown.  Cuba  has  her 
patriot  army,  resolved  that  her  fertile  plains  shall  no  longer  be  tram 
pled  under  the  heel  of  Spanish  tyranny,  and  the  warm  sea  that  laves 
her  rocky  shores  shall  sing  the  anthem  of  the  free. 

"Queen  of  the  Antilles  !"  Beautiful  Cuba!  For  ages  she  has 
writhed  under  the  oppression  of  the  haughty  Castilian.  Spain,  now 
in  hopeless  decline,  once  the  mightiest  nation  of  the  globe,  has  had 
many  of  the  richest  of  her  colonial  possessions,  one  after  another, 
wrenched  from  her  cruel  grasp,  and  with  desperate  resolve  sends  the 
flower  of  her  army  to  beat  back  the  insurgent  hosts  and  strengthen 
her  hold  upon  this  fairest  gem  of  the  West  Indies. 

Tha  American  people  are  alive  to  the  situation.  They  recall  the 
gory  conflict  that  made  themselves  a  free  and  independent  nation. 
Their  hearts  beat  high  and  their  blood  grows  warm  as  they  read  the 
thrilling  story  of  struggling  Cuba  and  the  brave  deeds  of  her  patriotic 
souls.  To  give  here  a  complete  history  and  description  of  Cuba's 
grand  uprising,  is  all  the  advocacy  that  her  sacred  cause  requires. 
It  will  be  of  interest  to  the  reader  to  have,  in  the  first  place,  a  com- 
2  17 


18  STRUGGLE   FOR   INDEPENDENCE. 

prehensive  sketch  of  the  Spanish  oppressions  under  which  the  people 
of  Cuba  have  struggled  for  ages,  together  with  their  heroic  efforts  to 
obtain  their  freedom  and  independence.  The  history  will  be  given 
later  in  detail,  but  from  this  general  outline,  a  correct  idea  can  be  ob 
tained  of  the  causes  which  have  led  to  the  latest  and  greatest  revolu 
tion.  Since  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  Cuba  has  been  the 
scene  of  revolutions  or  uprisings  of  one  kind  or  another.  The  direct 
aim  of  most,  if  not  all,  of  these  has  been  to  free  the  island  from  Span 
ish  control.  The  armed  natives  of  the  cities,  joined  by  bands  of 
stragglers  and  aided  by  filibusters,  have  struggled  without  organiza 
tion  against  drilled,  uniformed  and  comparatively  well-equipped  reg 
ular  troops  representing  Spain. 

Glowing  Record  of  Brave  Deeds. 

For  a  long  time  insurrection  was  the  term  applied  to  these  upris 
ings.  At  first,  and  indeed,  until  recently,  it  may  be  doubted  if  these 
uprisings  had  the  genuine  sympathy  of  the  Cubans  as  a  body,  and 
consequently,  they  were  foredoomed  to  be  failures. 

But  the  history  of  these  struggles  is  replete  with  brave  deeds  and 
exhibitions  of  personal  courage  and  strategy  that  would  do  credit  to 
a  body  of  men  familiar  with  the  science  of  warfare  and  accustomed 
to  facing  danger  on  the  battlefield. 

The  Spanish  colonies,  Cuba  excepted,  gained  their  independence 
in  1820-21.  Bolivar  was  their  successful  leader,  and  when  he  had 
fired  the  other  provinces  of  Spain  he  turned  his  attention  particularly 
to  Cuba.  But  for  a  time  his  project  failed;  some  Cuban  revolution 
ists  allege  that  it  was  the  refusal  of  the  United  States  to  countenance 
such  efforts  which  prevented  their  success.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the 
efforts  of  the  islanders  to  throw  off  the  Spanish  yoke  came  to  nothing 
material. 

But  Bolivar  and  his  fellow-conspirators  were  determined,  and 
sought  by  every  means  in  their  power  to  stir  up  rebellion  in  the 
Island.  Commissioners  were  sent  to  Cuba  to  create  sentiment  favor 
able  to  revolution.  They  were  soon  seized  by  the  Spanish  authori 
ties  and  executed.  Bolivar's  plan  came  to  a  dismal  end. 


STRUGGLE   FOR   INDEPENDENCE.  Ifc 

Revolution  was  in  the  blood  of  many  of  the  Cubans,  however,  and 
not  many  years  later  it  had  manifestation.  From  1848  to  1854  small 
and  ill-planned  uprisings  took  place.  Certain  elements  in  the  South 
ern  States  assisted  in  encouraging  these  insurrections. 

There  was  for  some  time  in  Southern  circles  a  project  looking  to 
the  annexation  of  Cuba  to  the  United  States,  and  its  division  into 
four  States,  each  of  which,  of  course,  would  have  been  entitled  to 
representation  in  Congress,  giving  the  South,  perhaps,  eight  Senators 
and  sixteen  Representatives,  and  so  throwing  the  balance  of  power 
here  into  the  hands  of  the  slavery  advocates. 

Captured  and  Put  to  Death. 

The  most  important  of  these  movements  was  that  headed  by  Nar- 
ciso  Lopez,  who  had  served  in  the  Spanish  army  as  a  general  of  divi 
sion,  but  who,  on  going  to  Cuba,  espoused  the  cause  of  the  revolu 
tionists.  He,  with  Crittenden,  the  Kentuckian,  with  a  force  of  400 
Americans,  and  200  Cubans,  set  out  from  New  Orleans,  landed  at 
Cardenas,  on  the  north  coast  of  Cuba,  and  captured  it  by  assault. 

The  victory  was  a  hollow  one,  for  the  time  had  been  ill-advisee? 
and  the  country  did  not  rise.  Finding  themselves  without  support, 
and  seeing  that  without  aid  from  the  Cubans,  they  must  be  captured 
or  driven  into  the  sea,  the  invaders  returned  to  Key  West.  The 
Cubans  on  that  occasion  regarded  the  movement  as  one  solely  in  the 
interests  of  slavery,  and  believed  its  projectors  to  be  inspired  by 
mercenary  motives. 

But  Lopez  was  not  to  be  cast  down  by  one  failure.  He  made  a 
second  attempt,  and  landed  at  Bahia  Honda.  There  he  encountered 
a  force  of  Spanish  troops,  under  General  Henna,  and  put  them  to 
rout.  The  Spanish  commander  was  killed,  and  for  the  time  the  star 
of  Lopez  was  in  the  ascendant.  Still  the  country  did  not  rise. 
Lopez,  in  the  western  end  of  the  Island,  where  Spanish  troops  were 
strongest  and  the  revolutionary  spirit  weakest,  soon  found  himself 
surrounded  and  overpowered.  Crittenden,  who  was  to  have  joined 
him,  remained  on  the  coast,  and  finally  attempted  to  escape  by  taking 
to  the  open  sea  in  boats.  He  was  captured,  with  fifty  of  his  men, 


STRUGGLE   FOR   INDEPENDENCE. 


and  all  were  put  to  death  in  Havana.     The  execution  was  marked  by 
atrocities,  the  news  of  which  rang  through  the  civilized  world. 

The  forces  of  Lopez,  overpowered  by  Spanish  troops,  were  dis 
persed  with  ease.  The  com 
mander  himself  was  garro- 
ted.  The  Island  was  quiet 
for  a  time  then,  but  not  for 
long.  Other  attempts  to  arouse 
the  country  up  to  1854  were 
those  of  Pinto,  a  Spaniard  of 
revolutionist  tendencies ;  Es- 
trampes  and  Aguero,  the 
last-named  of  whom  freed  all 
his  slaves  before  he  raised  the 
rebel  standard.  He  was  the 
first  outspoken  abolitionist 
in  Cuba.  He  and  the  other 
leaders  were  captured  after  a 
brief  struggle  and  executed. 

There  were  some  unim 
portant  risings  after  that,  but 
none  of  note  until  after  the 
American  civil  war.  This 
conflict  abolished  slavery.  Then  the  Southern  States  had  no 
further  object  in  meddling  with  Cuba.  The  filibustering  movements 
died  out  It  remained  for  Cuba  to  attempt  to  work  its  own  salvation. 
In  1868  came  the  hour  which  thousands  of  patriots  hailed  as  the 
dawn  of  deliverance,  for  on  October  10  of  that  year  Cespedes  raised 
the  five-barred  flag  at  Yara.  He  was  a  lawyer  and  logical  above  all 
things,  so  to  begin  with  he  freed  his  two  hundred  slaves,  and  they 
followed  him  to  battle  to  a  man.  The  entire  eastern  end  of  the 
Island  rose  against  the  Spaniards  at  the  call  of  Cespedes,  but  the  men 
were  without  arms  or  discipline.  Their  spirit  was  unquestioned,  but 
they  were  of  little  utility  against  well-armed  and  disciplined  forces. 

Their  leaders  were  Maximo  Gomez,  who  is  now  commander-in« 
chief  of  the  revolutionary  forces  ;  Marmol  and  Figueredo. 


GENERAL   MAXIMO   GOMEZ, 
Commander-in-Chief,  Cuban  Army. 


STRUGGLE   FOR   INDEPENDENCE. 


The  centre  of  the  Island,  called  Camaguey,  flocked  to  the  standard 
of  the  Marques  de  Sta  Lucia  and  the  Agramontes  in  November,  and  as 
enthusiasm  and  confidence  came  with  numbers  the  beginning  of  1868 
saw  Las  Villas  in  rebellion  with  14,000  men,  among  whom  there 
were  not  more  than  100  armed  with  effective  firearms.  To  oppose 
these  unarmed  and  undisciplined  enthusiasts  there  were  15,000  regu 
lars. 

The  western  end  of  the  Island  proved  cold,  but  even  there  small 
uprisings  were  fomented.  They  were  put  down  without  difficulty. 
Aid  from  without  was  not  wanting.  In 
December,  1868,  General  Quesada  land 
ed  with  the  first  expedition  from  Nassau, 
bringing  the  first  consignment  of  arms 
and  munitions  of  war.  The  revolution 
ist  cause  prospered,  and  on  April  10, 
1869,  a  new  government  was  constituted 
ai  J  a  House  of  Assembly  established. 
Cespedes  was  President  of  the  provi 
sional  government,  and  Quesada  com- 
mander-in- chief  of  the  forces. 

The  government,  which  had  little  be 
yond  its  name,  issued  a  proclamation  giving  freedom  to  all  the  ne 
groes  in  the  island — a  matter  which  gave  great  offence  to  the  Span 
iards,  even  those  of  liberal  tendencies. 

Ten  years  of  desultory  warfare  followed.  The  revolutionists  held 
the  centre  of  the  Island  and  the  mountains,  but  were  unable  to  obtain 
any  standing  in  the  seaports,  as  their  flag  was  not  recognized  there 
by  the  great  powers,  although  it  was  duly  saluted  from  time  to  time 
by  the  South  American  Republics.  The  United  States  did  not 
recognize  the  revolutionists,  despite  the  efforts  of  General  Rawlings 
and  Senator  Sherman  to  that  end. 

Every  effort  was  made  to  send  arms  to  the  insurgents.  There 
were  continual  attempts  at  blockade-running.  Some  of  these  expe 
ditions  evaded  capture,  but  others  were  taken  by  Spanish  troops  ?tid 
the  leaders  were  promptly  executed.  The  most  notable  was  that  ol 


CUBAN   COAT   OF   ARMS. 


22        oTRUGGLE  FOR  INDEPENDENCE. 

the  "  Virginius,"  under  Captain  Fry.  The  "  Virginius  "  put  out  from 
Kingston,  Jamaica.  The  capture  of  the  "Virginius"  and  the  summary 
execution  of  American  citizens  by  the  Spanish  authorities  so  excited 
this  nation  at  the  time  that  war  with  Spain  seemed  certain.  This 
was  one  of  the  most  notable  incidents  in  Cuban  history,  at  least  in 
point  of  AmericpJi  interest. 

Had  the  popular  voice  been  heeded  at  that  time  a  peaceful  solu 
tion  of  the  difficulty  would  have  been  impossible.  Feeling  ran  so 
high  throughout  the  country  that  public  meetings  were  held  all  over 
the  country  denouncing  the  execution  as  a  butchery,  and  warlike 
preparations  were  begun  in  many  cities.  In  some  cases  ships  were 
prepared  to  go  to  sea  in  anticipation  of  an  immediate  declaration  of 

war. 

Tragic  End  of  the  Expedition. 

The  voyage  of  the  "Virginius  "  was  begun  in  November  of  1873. 
The  steamer  was  pursued  by  the  Spanish  warship  "  Tornado,"  and  cap 
tured  within  sight  of  the  Morant  Point  Lighthouse,  at  the  east  end 
of  Jamaica.  She  was  towed  at  once  into  Santiago  de  Cuba,  despite 
the  fact  that  she  was  flying  the  Stars  and  Stripes  and  was  in  British 
waters.  Fifty-three  of  her  men  were  shot  in  a  public  square  in  San 
tiago,  in  some  instances  after  they  had  been  given  a  trial  lasting  only 
ten  minutes. 

Among  them  was  Captain  Joseph  Fry,  who  commanded  the  ship ; 
Bernade  Varona,  W.  A.  C.  Ryan,  Jesus  del  Sol  and  Pedro  Cespedes. 
There  was  no  United  States  cruiser  within  reach  of  Santiago,  but  the 
British  man-of-war  "  Niobe"  arrived  in  time  to  prevent  further  slaugh 
ter  of  American  and  English  subjects.  Her  commander,  Sir  Lam- 
bon  Lorraine,  acted  with  quickness  and  determination. 

"  Shoot  another  Englishman  or  American,"  he  said,  "  and  the 
Niobe  will  bombard  the  city." 

Then  the  slaughter  ceased.  Both  the  United  States  and  England 
protested  through  their  representatives,  and  sent  men-of-war  to  pro 
tect  the  other  prisoners.  The  survivors  were  delivered  up  to  the 
rescuing  ships  and  brought  to  New  York,  and  the  "  Virginius,"  with 
a  hole  in  her  bottom,  sank  off  Frying  Pan  Shoals. 


STRUGGLE   FOR   INDEPENDENCE.  23 

The  return  of  the  survivors  and  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the 
details  of  the  shooting  only  served  to  fan  into  fierce  blaze  the  fire  of 
popular  indignation.  The  general  voice  was  for  war  with  Spain,  and 
General  Sickles,  then  American  Minister  in  Madrid,  had  already 
asked  to  be  recalled,  and  was  preparing  to  leave  the  capital. 
Finally,  however,  the  matter  was  adjusted  diplomatically.  The  Span 
ish  Government  paid  an  indemnity  for  the  American  subjects  shot 
with  General  Ryan  and  Thomas  Ryan,  and  the  war  cloud  blew  over. 

But  in  Cuba  the  revolutionsts  continued  their  fight  for  supremacy. 
For  five  years — until  1878 — they  strove  against  terrible  odds  in  the 
centre  of  the  Island  and  in  the  mountains.  At  last  they  saw  that  the 
lack  of  arms  and  supplies  and  of  money  to  purchase  either  had  made 
the  struggle  a  hopeless  one,  and  they  decided  to  make  peace. 

Promises  of  Reform  by  Spain. 

A  treaty  was  signed,  by  which  Spain  granted  the  native  Cubans 
certain  liberties,  promised  to  reform  their  administration  in  some 
measure,  and  recognized  the  freedom  of  all  the  slaves  who  had  fought 
in  the  Cuban  army.  It  had  been  a  long  and  desperate  fight.  Quesada 
had  been  succeeded  as  General-in-chief  by  General  Thomas  Jordan, 
formerly  'General  Beauregard's  chief  of  staff  and  a  West  Pointer. 
He  lent  much  strength  to  the  cause,  but  abandoned  it  as  hopeless 
after  a  year's  campaigning  in  the  face  of  overwhelming  odds,  and 
with  a  few  arms  and  scant  supplies.  After  him  came  Agramonte, 
but  he  died  in  a  year,  and  then,  when  the  rebel  cause  seemed  to  be 
prospering,  General  Gomez  took  command.  He  invaded  the  western 
part  of  the  Island  and  almost  reached  Matanzas,  but  he,  too,  saw 
that  he  could  not  gain  ground  with  unarmed  men  and  withdrew  his 
forces.  That  was  in  1876,  and  from  that  time  the  revolution  waned 
until  the  treaty  of  El  Zanjon  in  February,  1878. 

Still  there  was  not  entire  quiet.  In  the  east  end  of  Cuba  General 
Maceo  refused  to  recognize  the  treaty,  and  continued  to  fight  for 
eleven  months,  only  to  fail  in  the  end  and  be  driven  from  Cuban  soil. 
The  treaty  concessions  were  by  no  means  liberal  enough  to  maintain 
order  for  any  length  of  time.  In  1880  General  Garcia  tried  again. 


STRUGGLE  FOR  INDEPENDENCE. 


25 


He  was  captured  in  1875,  but  before  surrendering  shot  himself  under 
the  chin,  the  bullet  passing  out  at  the  forehead.  He  was  sent  to  a 
fortress  in  Spain,  and  when  he  recovered  made  his  escape  to  the 
United  States. 

Here  he  and  Jose  Marti 
planned  another  expedition  to  Cu 
ba.  They  landed  and  held  their 
ground  for  six  months,  only  to 
find  that  the  country  was  not  ripe 
for  revolt.  The  Cubans,  weary  of 
continual  turmoil  and  bloodshed, 
longed  for  quiet.  At  last  Garcia 
was  captured  and  sent  once  more 
to  Spain.  From  this  time  dates 
the  autonomist  party,  started  by 
a  group  of  men  who  maintained 
that  experience  would  not  justify 
further  attempts  to  gain  freedom 
for  Cuba  by  force  of  arms,  and 
that  the  Island's  hope  lay  in  peace 
ful  measures  alor*e.  The  party 
gained  a  footing  very  rapidly ;  in 
deed,  its  existence  and  doctrine  had  much  to  do  with  the  failure  of 
General  Garcia  and  the  Cuban  party  of  freedom. 

Despite  the  efforts  of  the  peace  party,  however,  there  were  revolu 
tionist  leaders  who  were  ready  to  try  again.  In  1884  Generals  Gomez 
and  Maceo  visited  the  United  States  and  Central  America  with  a  view 
of  preparing  for  another  invasion.  The  movement  was  opposed 
bitterly  by  the  home-rule  party  in  Cuba,  and  was  abandoned.  Small 
and  ill-advised  attempts  at  revolution  followed  from  time  to  time  after 
that,  notably  those  headed  by  Limbano  Sanchez,  Benitez  and  Aguero. 

The  home-rulers,  in  the  meantime,  were  attempting  to  get  what  con 
cessions  they  could  from  Spain  by  peaceful  means.  In  1890  they  be 
came  restless  again.  The  peace  policy  did  not  prosper.  Cuba  was 
growing  uneasy  again,  The  concessions,  small  and  unsatisfactory  at  all 


JOSE  MARTI, 
Late  President  of  the  Revolutionary  Party. 


26  STRUGGLE   FOR   INDEPENDENCE. 

times,  began  to  be  regarded  as  sops  which  Spain  distributed  to  main- 
rain  peace.  They  gave  no  promise  of  more  liberal  treatment  in  future. 
Men  began  to  say  that  the  native  Cubans  were  cheated  at  the  polls, 
and  in  time  their  representatives  went  to  the  Cortes  no  more. 

For  fourteen  years  the  home-rulers,  led  by  such  men  as  Govin 
Montoro,  Figueroa,  Fernandez  de  Castro  and  Giberga,  had  made 
most  vigorous  rights  at  the  polls,  and,  notwithstanding  conservative 
frauds,  had  sent  their  best  orators  to  the  Spanish  Parliament.  It  was 
to  no  purpose.  The  home-rulers  spoke  to  empty  benches  in  Spain, 
and  no  party  there  recognized  them.  They  succeeded,  nevertheless, 
in  forcing  the  conservatives  in  Cuba  to  modify  their  policy  and  aided 
manfully  to  complete  the  emancipation  of  the  negro,  following  the 
Cuban  Constitution,  which  declared  that  "  all  men  are  free.'7  With 
the  economic  party  they  forced  the  government  to  celebrate  the 
Spanish-American  treaty,  without  which  the  fate  of  the  Island  was 
sealed. 

Divided  on  Important  Questions. 

The  conservatives  divided  into  two  groups,  one  leaning  toward 
union  with  the  Cubans  on  economic  questions  and  hoping  secretly  for 
the  annexation  of  Cuba  by  the  United  States.  They  were  demoral 
ized  by  the  refusal  of  the  liberals  to  go  to  the  polls,  the  autonomists 
having  declared  that  unless  the  obnoxious  suffrage  laws  which  gave 
the  Spaniards  a  sure  majority  at  the  polls  and  disfranchised  the  Cuban 
rural  population  were  abolished,  they  would  never  go  to  the  legisla 
tive  assembly  again. 

The  Spanish  liberals  really  formed  the  economist  party,  to  obtain 
commercial  concessions  and  secure  a  treaty  with  the  United  States, 
and  by  joining  hands  with  the  Cubans  they  forced  Spain's  hand  in  the 
matter.  But  this,  like  the  other  efforts  to  restore  quiet  and  content, 
proved  a  failure.  The  Cubans  complained  that  in  return  for  the  treaty 
and  its  benefits  to  the  Island  Spain  imposed  new  taxes,  which  more 
than  counterbalanced  all  the  good  that  had  been  done.  Representa 
tives  were  sent  to  the  Spanish  Parliament  again,  the  home-rule  con 
tingent  demanding,  as  of  old,  electoral  reform  sufficient  to  guarantee 
just  representation. 


STRUGGLE   FOR   INDEPENDENCE.  27 

It  was  then  that  the  Cuban  revolutionary  party  began  to  gain 
prominence — the  party  which  has  drawn  the  sword  in  the  latest  revo 
lution — and  asserted  boldly  that  peaceful  measures,  looking  to  freedom 
and  equality,  had  failed,  and  that  Cuba  must  take  up  arms  again  and 
drive  the  Spanish  soldiers  into  the  sea.  Such  talk  was  dangerous  on 
Cuban  soil.  Leaders  of  the  party  who  were  not  already  in  exile  left 
Cuba  and  began  to  plan  from  the  outside,  to  raise  money,  to  stir  up 
the  native  population  by  secret  agents — in  a  word  to  prepare  the  Island 
for  one  grand  united  effort  to  be  free. 

While  this  sentiment  was  being  nursed  at  home  and  outside  of  Cuba 
the  peace  party  was  still  at  work  on  its  own  lines.  In  1894  the  reform 
wing  of  the  Spaniards  joined  the  Cubans  in  their  fight  against  the 
Spanish  conservatives.  They  secured  some  reforms,  but  these,  the 
Cubans  say,  are  a  mere  farce,  as  the  proposition  is  the  establishment 
of  a  council  in  Cuba  in  which  the  Spanish  element  will  predominate. 
This  council  was  to  consist  of  thirty  members,  of  which  fifteen  were 
to  be  appointed  by  the  crown,  and  the  remainder  elected.  The 
method  of  electing,  the  Cubans  contend,  would  insure  a  majority  for 
the  Spaniards,  and  in  any  event  the  council  might  be  dissolved  at 
pleasure  by  the  Captain-General,  whoever  he  might  be. 

The  Cubans  want  universal  suffrage,  and  have  been  unable  to  secure 
it,  as  the  Spaniards  have  insisted  upon  certain  property  qualifications. 


CHAPTER   II. 
Spanish  Tyranny  and  Injustice. 

BY  agreement  that  is  practically  unanimous  outside  of  Spain,  the 
people  of  Cuba  have  just  cause  for  complaint.     They  have 
been  the  victims  of  extortion.     They  have  been  systematically 
robbed  and  hence  impoverished.     Time  after  time  they  have  sought 
redress,  and  the  answer  has  been  a  Spanish  army,  landed  on  their 
shores.     They  have  asked  for  representation  in  the  Spanish  Cortes, 
and   this  has  been  granted  so  grudgingly  that  it  has  amounted  to 
very  little.     They  have  plead  long  and  earnestly  for  the  correction 
of  abuses,  only  to  find   that   the    chains  which   bound   them  were 
riveted  tighter. 

Under  such  outrages  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  people  of  Cuba  have 
risen  repeatedly  to  throw  off  the  yoke  of  the  tyrant,  and  in  their 
gallant  struggles  have  had  the  sympathy  of  nearly  the  whole 
civilized  world. 

War  is  a  dire  necessity.  But  when  a  people  has  exhausted  all 
human  means  of  persuasion  to  obtain  from  an  unjust  oppressor  a 
remedy  for  its  ills,  if  it  appeals  as  a  last  resource  to  force  in  order  to 
repel  the  persistent  aggression  which  constitutes  tyranny,  this  people 
is  justified  before  its  own  conscience  and  before  the  tribunal  of  nations. 

Such  is  the  case  of  Cuba  in  its  wars  against  Spain.  No  nation 
has  ever  been  harsher  or  more  obstinately  harassing;  none  has  ever 
despoiled  a  colony  with  more  greediness  and  less  foresight  than 
Spain.  No  colony  has  ever  been  more  prudent,  more  long-suffering, 
more  cautious,  more  persevering  than  Cuba  in  its  purpose  of  asking 
for  its  rights  by  appealing  to  the  lessons  of  experience  and  political 
wisdom.  Only  driven  by  desperation  have  the  people  of  Cuba  taken 
up  arms,  and  having  done  so,  they  display  as  much  heroism  in  the 
hour  of  danger  as  they  had  shown  good  judgment  in  the  hour  of 
deliberation. 
28 


SPANISH   TYRANNY  AND   INJUSTICE.  29 

The  history  of  Cuba  during  the  present  century  is  a  long  series 
of  rebellions;  but  every  one  of  these  was  preceded  by  a  peaceful 
struggle  for  its  rights — a  fruitless  struggle  because  of  the  obstinate 
blindness  of  Spain. 

Cubans  were  deprived  of  the  little  show  of  political  intervention 
they  had  in  public  affairs.  By  a  simple  Royal  Decree  in  1837  the 
small  representation  of  Cuba  in  the  Spanish  Cortes  was  suppressed, 
and  all  the  powers  of  the  government  were  concentrated  in  the  hands 
of  the  Captain  General,  on  whom  authority  was  conferred  to  act  as  the 
governor  of  a  city  in  a  state  of  siege.  This  implied  that  the  Captain 
General,  residing  in  Havana,  was  master  of  the  life  and  property  of 
every  inhabitant  of  the  Island  of  Cuba.  This  meant  that  Spain 
declared  a  permanent  state  of  war  against  a  peaceful  and  defenceless 
people. 

Wandering  Exiles. 

Cuba  saw  its  most  illustrious  sons,  such  as  Heredia  and  Saco, 
wander  in  exile  throughout  the  free  American  Continent.  Cuba  saw 
as  many  of  the  Cubans  as  dared  to  love  liberty  and  declare  it  by  act 
or  word,  die  on  the  scaffold,  such  as  Joaquin  de  Aguero  and  Placido. 
Cuba  saw  the  product  of  its  people's  labor  confiscated  by  iniquitous 
laws  imposed  by  its  masters  from  afar.  Cuba  saw  the  administration 
of  justice  in  the  hands  of  foreign  magistrates,  who  acted  at  the  will 
or  the  whim  of  its  rulers. 

Cuba  suffered  all  the  outrages  that  can  humiliate  a  conquered 
people.,  in  the  name  and  by  the  work  of  a  government  that  sarcastic 
ally  calls  itself  paternal.  Is  it  to  be  wondered  then  that  an  uninter 
rupted  era  of  conspiracies  and  uprisings  should  have  been  inaugu 
rated  ?  Cuba  in  its  despair  took  up  arms  in  1850  and  185 1,  conspired 
again  in  1855.  waged  war  in  1868,  in  1879,  in  1885,  and  has  been 
fighting  since  the  24th  of  February,  1895. 

But  at  the  same  time  Cuba  has  never  ceased  to  ask  for  justice  and 
redress.  Its  people,  before  shouldering  the  rifle,  pleaded  for  their 
rights.  Before  the  pronunciamento  of  Aguero  and  the  invasions  of 
Lopez,  Saco,  in  exile,  exposed  the  dangers  of  Cuba  to  the  Spanish 
statesmen,  and  pointed  to  the  remedy.  Other  far-sighted  men 


so 


SPANISH    TYRANNY  AND   INJUSTICE.  31 

seconded  him  in  the  Colony.  They  denounced  the  cancer  of  slavery, 
the  horrors  of  the  traffic  in  slaves,  the  corruption  of  the  office-holders, 
the  abuses  of  the  government,  the  discontent  of  the  people  with  their 
forced  state  of  political  tutelage.  No  attention  was  given  to  them, 
and  this  brought  on  the  first  armed  conflicts. 

Before  the  formidable  insurrection  of  1868,  which  lasted  ten  years, 
the  reform  party,  which  included  the  most  enlightened,  wealthy  and 
influential  Cubans,  exhausted  all  the  resources  within  their  reach  to 
induce  Spain  to  initiate  a  healthy  change  in  the  Cuban  policy,  The 
party  started  the  publication  of  periodicals  in  Madrid  and  in  the 
Island,  addressed  petitions,  maintained  a  great  agitation  throughout 
the  country,  and  having  succeeded  in  leading  the  Spanish  Govern 
ment  to  make  an  inquiry  into  the  economical,  political  and  social 
condition  of  Cuba,  they  presented  a  complete  plan  of  government 
which  satisfied  public  requirements  as  well  as  the  aspirations  of  the 
people.  The  Spanish  Government  disdainfully  cast  aside  the  propo 
sition  as  useless,  increased  taxation,  and  proceeded  to  its  exaction 
wi.th  extreme  severity. 

Outbreak  of  the  Long  War. 

It  was  then  that  the  ten-year  war  broke  out.  Cuba,  almost  a 
pigmy  compared  with  Spain,  fought  like  a  giant.  Blood  ran  in  tor 
rents.  Public  wealth  disappeared  in  a  bottomless  abyss.  Spain  lost 
200,000  men.  Whole  districts  of  Cuba  were  left  almost  entirely 
without  their  male  population.  Seven  hundred  millions  were  spent 
to  feed  that  conflagration — a  conflagration  that  tested  Cuban  heroism, 
but  which  could  not  touch  the  hardened  heart  of  Spain.  The  latter 
could  not  subdue  the  bleeding  Colony,  which  had  no  longer  strength 
to  prolong  the  struggle  with  any  prospect  of  success.  Spain  pro 
posed  a  compact,  which  was  a  snare  and  a  deceit.  She  granted  to 
Cuba  the  liberties  of  Puerto  Rico,  which  enjoyed  none. 

On  this  deceitful  ground  was  laid  the  new  situation,  throughout 
which  has  run  a  current  of  falsehood  and  hypocrisy.  Spain,  whose 
mind  had  not  changed,  hastened  to  change  the  name  of  things.  The 
Captain  General  was  called  Governor  General.  The  royal  decrees 


32  SPANISH   TYRANNY  AND   INJUSTICE. 

took  the  name  of  authorizations.  The  commercial  monopoly  of 
Spain  was  named  coasting  trade.  The  right  of  banishment  was 
transformed  into  the  law  of  vagrancy.  The  abolition  of  constitu 
tional  guarantees  became  the  law  of  public  order.  Taxation  without 
the  consent  or  knowledge  of  the  Cuban  people  was  changed  into  the 
law  of  estimates  (budget)  voted  by  the  representatives  of  Spain,  that 
is,  of  European  Spain. 

The  painful  lesson  of  the  ten-year  war  had  been  entirely  lost  on 
Spain.  Instead  of  inaugurating  a  redeeming  policy  that  would  heal  the 
recent  wounds,  allay  public  anxiety,  and  quench  the  thirst  for  justice 
felt  by  the  people,  who  were  desirous  to  enjoy  their  natural  rights,  the 
Spanish  Government,  while  lavish  in  promises  of  reform,  persisted  in 
carrying  on  unchanged  its  old  and  crafty  system,  the  groundwork  of 
which  continues  to  be  the  same,  namely  :  To  exclude  every  native 
Cuban  from  every  office  that  could  give  him  any  effective  influence 
and  intervention  in  public  affairs ;  the  ungovernable  exploitation  of 
the  colonists'  labor  for  the  benefit  of  Spanish  commerce  and  Spanish 
bureaucracy,  both  civil  and  military.  To  carry  out  the  latter  pur 
pose  it  was  necessary  to  maintain  the  former  at  any  cost. 

Systematic  Robbery  of  Cuba. 

What  use  the  Spanish  Government  has  made  of  its  power  is 
apparent  in  the  threefold  spoliation  to  which  it  has  submitted  the 
Island  of  Cuba.  Spain  has  not,  in  fact,  a  colonial  policy.  In  the 
distant  lands  she  has  subdued  by  force,  Spain  has  sought  nothing  but 
immediate  riches,  and  these  it  has  wrung  by  might  from  the  compul 
sory  labor  of  the  natives.  For  this  reason  Spain  to-day  in  Cuba  is 
only  a  parasite.  Spain  robs  the  Island  of  Cuba  through  its  fiscal 
regime,  through  its  commercial  regime  and  through  its  bureaucratic 
regime.  These  are  the  three  forms  of  official  spoliation  ;  but  they 
are  not  the  only  forms  of  spoliation. 

When  the  war  of  1878  came  to  an  end,  two-thirds  of  the  Island 
were  completely  ruined.  The  other  third,  the  population  of  which 
had  remained  peaceful,  was  abundantly  productive  ;  but  it  had  to 
face  the  great  economical  change  involved  in  the  impending  abolition 


SPANISH   TYRANNY   AND    INJUSTICE.  33 

of  slavery.  Slavery  had  received  its  death-blow  at  the  hands  of  the 
insurrection,  and  Cuban  insurrectionists  succeeded  at  the  close  of  the 
war  in  securing  its  eventual  abolition. 

Evidently  it  would  have  been  a  wholesome  and  provident  policy 
to  lighten  the  fiscal  burdens  of  a  country  in  such  a  condition.  Spain 
was  only  bent  on  making  Cuba  pay  the  cost  of  the  war.  The 
Government  overwhelmed  the  Colony  with  enormous  budgets,  reach 
ing  as  high  a  figure  as  forty-six  million  dollars,  and  this  only  to 
cover  the  obligations  of  the  State ;  or,  rather,  to  fill  up  the  unfathom 
able  gulf  left  by  the  wastefulness  and  plunder  of  the  civil  and  military 
administration  during  the  years  of  war,  and  to  meet  the  expenses  of 
the  military  occupation  of  the  country. 

Oppressive  Taxation. 

The  economical  organization  of  Cuba  is  of  the  simplest  kind.  It 
produces  to  expoit,  and  imports  almost  everything  it  consumes.  In 
view  of  this,  it  is  evident  that  all  Cuba  required  from  the  State  was 
that  it  should  not  hamper  its  work  with  excessive  burdens,  nor 
hinder  its  commercial  relations  ;  so  that  it  could  buy  cheap  v/here  it 
suited  her,  and  sell  her  products  with  profit 

Spain  has  done  all  the  contrary.  She  has  treated  the  tobacco  as 
an  enemy;  she  has  loaded  the  sugar  with  excessive  imposts;  she 
has  shackled  with  excessive  and  abusive  excise  duties  the  cattle- 
raising  industry ;  and  with  her  legislative  doings  and  undoings  she 
has  thrown  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  mining  industry.  And,  tc 
cap  the  climax,  she  has  tightly  bound  Cuba  in  the  network  of  a 
monstrous  tariff  and  a  commereial  legislation  which  subjects  the 
Colony,  at  the  end  of  the  nineteenth  century,  to  the  ruinous  monopoly 
of  the  producers  and  merchants  of  certain  regions  of  Spain,  as  in 
the  halcyon  days  of  the  colonial  compact. 

If  Spain  were  a  flourishing  industrial  country,  and  produced  the 
principal  articles  required  by  Cuba  for  the  consumption  of  its  people, 
or  for  developing  and  fostering  its  industries,  the  evil,  although 
always  great,  would  be  a  lesser  one.  But  everybody  knows  the 
backwardness  of  the  Spanish  industries,  and  the  inability  of  Spain  to 


SPANISH    TYRANNY  AND    INJUSTICE.  35 

supply  Cuba  with  the  products  she  requires  for  her  consumption  and 
industries.  The  Cubans  have  to  consume  or  use  Spanish  articles  of 
inferior  quality,  or  pay  exorbitant  prices  for  foreign  goods.  The 
Spanish  merchants  have  found,  moreover,  a  new  source  of  fraud  in 
the  application  of  these  antiquated  and  iniquitous  laws ;  it  consists  in 
nationalizing  foreign  products  for  importation  into  Cuba. 

As  the  mainspring  of  this  senseless  commercial  policy  is  to  sup 
port  the  monopoly  of  Spanish  commerce,  when  Spain  has  been  com 
pelled  to  deviate  from  it,  to  a  certain  extent,  by  an  international 
treaty,  it  has  done  so  reluctantly,  and  in  the  anxious  expectation  of 
an  opportunity  to  nullify  its  own  promises.  This  explains  the  acci 
dental  history  of  the  Reciprocity  Treaty  with  the  United  States, 
which  was  received  with  joy  by  Cuba,  obstructed  by  the  Spanish 
administration,  and  prematurely  abolished  by  the  Spanish  Govern 
ment  as  soon  as  it  saw  an  opportunity. 

Seeds  of  Discontent  and  Dissension. 

The  injury  done  to  Cuba,  and  the  evil  effects  produced  by  this 
commercial  legislation,  are  beyond  calculation  ;  its  effects  have  been 
mateiial  losses  which  have  engendered  profound  discontent.  The 
"  Circulo  de  Hacendados  y  Agricultores,"  the  wealthiest  corporation 
of  the  Island,  in  1894,  passed  judgment  on  these  commercial  laws  in 
the  following  severe  terms  : 

"  It  would  be  impossible  to  explain,  should  the  attempt  be  made, 
what  is  the  signification  of  the  present  commercial  laws,  as  regards 
any  economical  or  political  plan  or  system ;  because,  economically, 
they  aim  at  the  destruction  of  public  wealth,  and,  politically,  they 
are  the  cause  of  inextinguishable  discontent,  and  contain  the  germs  of 
grave  dissensions" 

But  Spain  has  not  taken  heed  of  this ;  her  only  care  has  been  to 
keep  the  producers  and  merchants  of  such  rebellious  provinces  as 
Catalonia  contented,  and  to  satisfy  its  military  men  and  bureaucrats. 

For  the  latter  is  reserved  the  best  part  of  the  booty  taken  from 
Cuba.  High  salaries  and  the  power  of  extortion  for  the  office 
holders  sent  to  the  Colony ;  regular  tributes  for  the  politicians  who 


36  SPANISH    TYRANNY  AND   INJUSTICE. 

uphold  them  in  the  Metropolis.  The  Governor  General  is  paid  a 
salary  of  $50,000,  in  addition  to  a  palace,  a  country  house  as  a  sum 
mer  resort,  servants,  coaches  and  a  fund  for  secret  expenses  at  his 
disposal.  The  Director  General  of  the  Treasury  receives  a  salary  of 
$18,500.  The  Archbishop  of  Santiago  and  the  Bishop  of  Havana, 
$18,000  each.  The  Commander  General  of  the  "  Apostadero " 
(naval  station),  $16,392. 

Fat  Salaries  of  Spanish  Officials. 

The  General  Segundo  Cabo  (second  in  command  of  the  Island), 
and  the  President  of  the  "  Audiencia,"  $15,000  each;  the  Governor 
of  Havana  and  the  Secretary  of  the  General  Government,  $8,000 
each;  the  Postmaster  General,  $5,000;  the  Collector  of  the  Havana 
Custom  House,  $4,000 ;  the  Manager  of  Lotteries,  the  same  salary. 
The  Chief  Clerks  of  Administration  of  the  first  class  receive  $5,000 
each,  those  of  the  second  class  $4,000,  and  those  of  the  third  class 
$3,000  each  The  major  generals  are  paid  $7,500,  the  brigadier 
generals  $4,500,  and,  when  in  command,  $5,000;  the  colonels  $3,450, 
and  this  salary  is  increased  when  they  are  in  command  of  a  regiment. 
The  captains  of"  navio"  (the  largest  men-of-war)  receive  $6,300;  the 
captains  of  frigates,  $4,560;  the  lieutenants  of  "navfp  of  the  first 
class,  $3,370.  All  these  functionaries  are  entitled  to  free  lodgings 
and  domestic  servants.  Then  follows  the  numberless  crowd  of  minor 
officials,  all  well  provided  for,  and  with  great  facilities  better  to  pro 
vide  for  themselves. 

In  August  of  1887,  General  Mann  entered  the  custom-house  of 
Havana  at  the  head  of  a  military  force,  besieged  and  occupied  it, 
investigated  the  operations  carried  on  there,  and  discharged  every 
employee.  The  act  caused  a  great  stir,  but  not  a  single  one  of  the 
officials  was  indicted,  or  suffered  a  further  punishment.  There  were, 
in  1891,  three  hundred  and  fifty  officials  indicted  in  Cuba  for  commit 
ting  fraud  ;  not  one  of  them  was  punished. 

But  how  could  they  be  punished  ?  Every  official  who  comes  to 
Cuba  has  an  influential  patron  in  the  Court  of  Madrid,  for  whose  pro 
tection  he  pays  with  regularity.  This  is  a  public  secret.  General 


'J 


SPANISH    TYRANNY    AND    INJUSTICE.  37 

Salamanca  gave  it  out  in  plain  words,  and  before  and  after  General 
Salamanca  all  Spain  knew  and  knows  it.  The  political  leaders  are 
well  known  who  draw  the  highest  income  from  the  office-holders  of 
Cuba,  who  are,  as  a  matter  of  course,  the  most  fervent  advocates  of 
the  necessity  of  Spanish  rule  in  Cuba. 

But  Spanish  bureaucracy  is,  moreover,  so  deep-rooted  in  Spain 
that  it  has  succeeded  in  shielding  itself  even  against  the  action  of  the 
courts  of  justice.  There  is  a  royal  decree  (that  of  1882)  in  force  in 
Cuba,  which  provides  that  the  ordinary  courts  cannot  take  cognizance 
of  such  offences  as  defalcation,  abstraction  or  malversation  of  public 
funds,  forgery,  etc.,  committed  by  officials  of  the  administration,  if 
their  guilt  is  not  first  established  by  an  administrative  investigation. 
The  administration  is,  therefore,  its  own  judge.  What  further 
security  does  the  corrupt  office-holder  need  ? 

Why  Cuba  is  Ruined. 

The  cause  of  the  ruin  of  Cuba,  despite  her  sugar  output  of  one 
million  tons  and  her  vast  tobacco  fields,  can  be  easily  explained. 
Cuba  does  not  capitalize,  and  it  does  not  capitalize  because  the  fiscal 
regime  imposed  upon  the  country  does  not  permit  it.  The  money 
derived  from  its  large  exportations  does  not  return  either  in  the  form 
of  importations  of  goods  or  of  cash.  It  remains  abroad  to  pay  the 
interest  of  its  huge  debt,  to  cover  the  incessant  remittances  of  funds 
by  the  Spaniards  who  hasten  to  send  their  earnings  out  of  the  coun 
try,  to  pay  from  Cuban  money  the  pensioners  who  live  in  Spain,  and 
to  meet  the  drafts  forwarded  by  every  mail  from  Cuba  by  the  Span 
iards  as  a  tribute  to  their  political  patrons  in  the  Metropolis,  and  to 
help  their  families. 

In  exchange  for  all  that  Spaniards  withhold  from  Cuba,  they  say 
that  they  have  given  her  her  liberties.  This  is  a  mockery.  The  lib 
erties  are  written  in  the  Constitution,  but  obliterated  in  its  practical 
application.  Before  and  after  its  promulgation  the  public  press  has 
been  rigorously  persecuted  in  Cuba.  Many  journalists,  such  as 
Senores  Cepeda  and  Lopes  Bririas,  have  been  banished  from  the 
country  without  the  formality  of  a  trial.  In  November  of  1891 


38  SPANISH    TYRANNY   AND    INJUSTICE. 

Don  Manuel  A.  Balmaceda  was  tried  by  tourt  martial  for  having 
published  an  editorial  paragraph  relative  to  the  shooting  of  medical 
students. 

The  newspapers  have  been  allowed  to  discuss  public  affairs  theo 
retically  ;  but  the  moment  they  Denounce  any  abuse  or  the  conduct 
of  any  official  they  feel  the  hand  of  their  rulers  laid  upon  them. 
The  official  organ  of  the  home-rule  party,  "  El  Pais,"  has  undergone 
more  than  one  trial  for  having  pointed  in  measured  terms  to  some 
infractions  of  the  law  en  the  part  of  officials,  naming  the  transgress 
ors.  In  1887  that  periodical  was  subjected  to  criminal  proceedings 
simply  because  it  had  stated  that  a  son  of  the  president  of  the 
Havana  "  Audiencia  "  was  holding  a  certain  office  contrary  to  law. 

Right  of  Public  Meeting  Denied. 

They  say  that  in  Cuba  the  people  are  at  liberty  to  hold  public 
meetings,  but  every  time  the  inhabitants  assemble,  previous  notifica 
tion  must  be  given  to  the  authorities,  and  a  functionary  is  appointed 
to  be  present,  with  power  to  suspend  the  meeting  whenever  he 
deems  such  a  measure  advisable.  The  meetings  of  the  "  Circulo  de 
Frabajadores  "  (an  association  of  workingmen)  were  forbidden  by  the 
authorities  under  the  pretext  that  the  building  where  they  were  to 
be  held  was  not  sufficiently  safe.  In  1895  the  members  of  the  "  Cir 
culo  de  Hacendados "  (association  of  planters)  invited  their  fellow- 
members  throughout  the  country  to  get  up  a  great  demonstration  to 
demand  a  remedy  which  the  critical  state  of  their  affairs  required. 
The  government  found  means  to  prevent  their  meeting. 

One  of  the  most  significant  events  that  have  occurred  in  Cuba,  and 
one  which  throws  a  flood  of  light  upon  its  political  regime,  was  the 
failure  of  the  "Junta  Magna"(an  extraordinary  meeting)  projected 
by  the  "  Circulo  de  Hacendados."  This  corporation  solicited  the 
co-operation  of  the  "  Sociedad  Economica  "  and  of  the  "  Junta  Gen 
eral  de  Comercio  "  to  hold  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  sending  to 
Madrid  the  complaints  which  the  precarious  situation  of  the  country 
inspired.  The  work  of  preparation  was  already  far  advanced,  when  a 
friend  of  the  government,  Sefior  Rodriguez  Correa,  stated  that  the 


SPANISH  TYRANNY  AND  INJUSTICE.  39 

Governor-General  looked  with  displeasure  upon  "3J\&  forbade  the  hold 
ing  of  the  great  meeting.  This  was  sufficient  to  frighten  the  "  Cir- 
culo  "  and  to  secure  the  failure  of  the  project.  It  is  then  evident  that 
the  inhabitants  of  Cuba  can  have  meetings  only  when  the  govern 
ment  thinks  it  advisable  to  permit  them. 

Against  this  political  regime,  which  is  a  sarcasm,  and  in  which 
deception  is  added  to  the  most  absolute  contempt  for  right,  the 
Cubans  have  unceasingly  protested  since  it  was  implanted  in  1878. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  enumerate  the  representations  made  in  Spain, 
the  protests  voiced  by  the  representatives  of  Cuba,  the  commissions 
that  have  crossed  the  ocean  to  try  to  impress  upon  the  exploiters  of 
Cuba  what  the  fatal  consequences  of  their  obstinacy  would  be. 

A  Bold  Manifesto. 

The  exasperation  prevailing  in  the  country  was  such  that  the 
"Junta  Central"  of  the  home-rule  party  issued  in  1892  a  manifesto  in 
which  it  foreshadowed  that  the  moment  might  shortly  arrive  when 
the  country  would  resort  to  "  extreme  measures,  the  responsibility  of 
which  would  fall  on  those  who,  led  by  arrogance  and  priding  them 
selves  on  their  power,  hold  prudence  in  contempt,  worship  force  and 
shield  themselves  with  their  impunity." 

This  manifesto,  which  foreboded  the  mournful  hours  of  the  present 
war,  was  unheeded  by  Spain,  and  not  until  a  division  took  place  in 
the  Spanish  party,  which  threatened  to  turn  into  an  armed  struggle^ 
did  the  statesmen  of  Spain  think  that  the  moment  had  arrived  to  try 
a  new  farce,  and  to  make  a  false  show  of  reform  in  the  administrative 
regime  of  Cuba.  Then  was  Minister  Maura's  plan  broached,  to  be 
modified  before  its  birth  by  Minister  Abarzusa. 

This  project,  to  which  the  Spaniards  have  endeavored  to  give  cap 
ital  importance  in  order  to  condemn  the  revolution  as  the  work  of 
impatience  and  anarchism,  leaves  intact  the  political  regime  of  Cuba. 
It  does  not  alter  the  electoral  law.  It  does  not  curtail  the  power  of 
the  bureaucracy.  It  increases  the  power  of  the  general  government. 
It  leaves  the  same  burdens  upon  the  Cuban  tax-payer,  and  does  not 
give  him  the  right  to  participate  in  the  formation  of  the  budgets. 


40  SPANISH    TYRANNY   AND    INJUSTICE. 

The  reform  is  confined  to  the  changing  of  the  Council  of  Admims. 
tration  (now  in  existence  in  the  Island,  and  the  members  of  which 
are  appointed  by  the  government)  into  a  partially  elective  body. 
One-half  of  its  members  are  to  be  appointed  by  the  government,  and 
the  other  half  to  be  elected  by  the  qualified  electors,  that  is,  who 
are  assessed  and  pay  a  certain  amount  of  taxes.  The  Governor  Gen 
eral  has  the  right  to  veto  all  its  resolutions,  and  to  suspend  at  will 
the  elective  members.  This  Council  is  to  make  up  a  kind  of  special 
budget  embracing  the  items  included  now  in  the  general  budget  of 
Cuba  under  the  head  of  ".Fomento."  The  State  reserves  for  itself  all 
the  rest. 

Treated  as  a  Subjugated  People. 

Thus  the  Council  can  dispose  of  2.75  per  cent,  of  the  revenues  of 
Cuba,  while  the  government  distributes,  as  at  present,  97.25  per  cent, 
for  its  expenses,  in  the  form  we  have  explained.  The  general  budget 
will  as  heretofore  be  made  up  in  Spain;  the  tariff  laws  will  be  enacted 
by  Spain.  The  debt,  militarism  and  bureaucracy  will  continue  to 
devour  Cuba,  and  the  Cubans  will  continue  to  be  treated  as  a  subju 
gated  people.  All  power  is  to  continue  in  the  hands  of  the  Spanish 
government  and  its  delegates  in  Cuba,  and  all  the  influence  with  the 
Spanish  residents.  This  is  the  self-government  which  Spain  has 
promised  to  Cuba,  and  which  it  is  announcing  to  the  world,  in 
exchange  for  its  colonial  system.  A  far  better  form  of  government 
is  enjoyed  by  the  Bahama  or  the  Turks  Islands. 

The  Cubans  would  have  been  wanting  not  only  in  self-respect,  but 
even  in  the  instincts  of  self-preservation,  if  they  could  have  endured 
such  a  degrading  and  destructive  regime.  Their  grievances  are  of 
such  a  nature  that  no  people,  no  human  community  capable  of  valu 
ing  its  honor  and  of  aspiring  to  better  its  condition,  could  bear  them 
without  degrading  and  condemning  itself  to  utter  nullity  and  annihi 
lation. 

Spain  denies  to  the  Cubans  all  effective  powers  in  their  own 
country. 

Spain  condemns  the  Cubans  to  a  political  inferiority  in  the  land 
where  they  are  born. 


SPANISH    TYRANNY   AND    INJUSTICE.  41 

Spain  confiscates  the  product  of  the  Cubans'  labor,  without  giving 
them  in  return  either  safety,  prosperity  or  education. 

Spain  has  shown  itself  utterly  incapable  of  governing  Cuba. 

Spain  impoverishes  and  demoralizes  Cuba. 

To  maintain  by  force  of  arms  this  monstrous  regime,  which  brings 
ruin  on  a  country  rich  by  nature  and  degrades  a  vigorous  and  intelli 
gent  population,  a  population  filled  with  noble  aspirations,  is  what 
Spain  calls  to  defend  its  honor  and  to  preserve  the  prestige  of  its 
social  functions  as  a  civilizing  power  of  America. 

Rebellion  against  Oppression. 

The  Cubans,  not  in  anger,  but  in  despair,  have  appealed  to  arms 
in  order  to  defend  their  rights  and  to  vindicate  an  eternal  principle,  a 
principle  without  which  every  community,  however  robust  in  appear 
ance,  is  in  danger — the  principle  of  justice.  Nobody  has  the  right 
of  oppression.  Spain  oppresses  Cuba.  In  rebelling  against  oppres 
sion,  Cuba  defends  a  right.  In  serving  her  own  cause  she  serves  thfe 
cause  of  mankind. 

She  has  not  counted  the  number  of  her  enemies ;  she  has  not 
measured  their  strength.  She  has  cast  up  the  account  of  her  griev 
ances.  She  has  weighed  the  mass  of  injustice  that  crushes  her,  and 
with  uplifted  heart  she  has  risen  to  seek  redress  and  to  uphold  her 
rights.  She  may  find  ruin  and  death  a  few  steps  ahead.  So  be  it. 
If  the  world  is  so  indifferent  to  her  cause,  so  much  the  worse  for  all. 
A  new  iniquity  shall  have  been  consummated.  The  principle  of  human 
solidarity  shall  have  suffered  a  defeat.  The  sum  of  good  existing  in 
the  world,  and  which  the  world  needs  to  purify  its  moral  atmosphere, 
shall  have  been  lessened. 

The  people  of  Cuba  require  only  liberty  and  independence  to 
become  a  factor  of  prosperity  and  progress  in  the  community  of  civil 
ized  nations.  At  present  Cuba  is  a  factor  of  intranquillity,  disturb 
ance  and  ruin.  The  fault  lies  entirely  with  Spain.  Cuba  is  not  the 
offender;  it  is  the  defender  of  its  rights.  Let  America,  let  the  world 
decide  where  rest  justice  and  right. 


CHAPTER  III. 
Why  Cuba  Demands  Self- Government. 

WE  have  already  seen  that  there  have  been  in  Cuba  repeated 
uprisings  and  the  most  heroic  and  self-sacrificing  efforts  to 
obtain  independence.  Every  intelligent  reader  will  con 
clude  that  there  must  have  been  grave  and  serious  causes  for  this 
chronic  state  of  discontent  and  revolution. 

We  will  here  allow  a  prominent,  distinguished  Cuban,  whose  in 
telligence  and  discernment  are  not  to  be  questioned,  state  the  case  in 
his  own  clear  and  convincing  manner.  This  gentleman  is  Tomas 
Estrada  Palma,  Delegate  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  "  Republica 
de  Cuba/'  This  gentleman  says  : 

The  cause  of  the  present  revolution  in  Cuba,  briefly  stated,  may 
be  said  to  be  taxation  without  representation,  a  phrase  certainly 
familiar  t3  American  ears  and  emphasized  by  the  most  important 
event  in  the  history  of  the  nation,  the  War  for  Independence.  Is  it 
not  quite  natural,  especially  in  this  progressive  age,  that  an  intelli 
gent  and  spirited  people  like  the  Cubans  should  demand  the  right  to 
govern  themselves,  especially  in  view  of  the  fact  that  they  have  always 
suffered  from  misgovernment  at  the  hands  of  their  rulers  ? 

For  three  hundred  years,  in  the  early  history  of  Cuba,  Spain 
almost  forgot  the  existence  of  the  Pearl  of  the  Antilles,  her  attention 
being  turned  to  Peru  and  Mexico,  the  countries  of  gold  and  silver. 
It  is  said  that  some  of  the  Spanish  officials  even  forgot  the  name  of 
the  Island,  directing  their  dispatches  to  the  Isla  de  la  Habana. 

All  the  laws  for  Cuba  are  made  in  Spain.  The  annual  budget  of 
the  Island,  that  is,  the  annual  estimate  of  revenue  and  expenditure,  is 
made  in  Spain ;  all  the  employes  in  the  governmental  service  on  the 
Island  come  from  Spain.  The  Spaniards  decide  just  how  much 
money  shall  be  raised  by  taxes  and  all  the  Cubans  have  to  do  is,  to 
42 


WHY   CUBA   DEMANDS   SELF-GOVERNMENT.        43 

use  an  Americanism,  "  step  up  to  the  captain's  office  and  settle." 
The  annual  taxation  amounts  to  between  $24,000,000  and  $26,000,- 
000.  Among  the  items  of  expenditure  are  $10,500,000  for  interest 
on  the  national  debt  of  Spain,  nearly  $7,000,000  for  the  army  and 
navy,  about  $4,000,000  salaries  for  civil  employes,  $2,000,000  for 
pensions  to  retired  military,  civil  and  judicial  officials  or  their 
widows,  nearly  $1,000,000  for  the  Judicial  and  $700,000  for  the  Trea 
sury  Department. 

No  money  is  appropriated  to  primary  public  education,  and  only 
an  insignificant  sum  to  works  of  public  utility  and  higher  education. 
The  municipalities  provide  for  primary  education  as  best  they  can, 
though  their  means  are  very  limited,  all  the  available  methods  of 
raising  revenue  having  been  exhausted  by  the  General  Government. 
This  taxation,  for  a  country  of  i,6oo;OOO  inhabitants,  is  an  enormous 
burden,  but  does  not  represent  the  real  amount  of  money  taken  from 
the  people.  For  every  dollar  raised  by  taxation  another  dollar  is 
stolen  by  the  Spanish  officials  sent  to  the  Island  by  the  paternal 

Government. 

Driven  to  take  up  Arms. 

Under  these  circumstances  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  Cubans 
should  demand  the  right  to  self-government.  It  must  be  remem 
bered  that  they  have  not  resorted  to  physical  force  until  peaceable 
methods  to  secure  redress  of  their  wrongs  have  failed.  The  people 
have  vainly  applied  to  the  Spanish  Cortes  for  the  right  of  self-govern 
ment,  not  only  at  a  comparatively  recent  date,  but  for  the  past 
seventy  years  they  have  vainly  endeavored  to  secure  their  rights  by 
legislative  means  and  have  hoped  to  avoid  a  war. 

The  Spanish  law-makers  have  invariably  refused  to  grant  them  any 
real  redress.  I  say  real  redress  because  the  Cortes,  about  a  year 
before  the  present  revolution,  offered  a  scheme  of  reform  which 
would  not  have  remedied  any  of  the  evils  complained  of,  and  was 
only  intended  as  a  sop  to  blind  the  eyes  of  the  Cubans  and  keep 
them  patient  under  the  yoke  of  their  masters.  It  did  not,  in  any 
sense,  provide  for  the  self-government  of  Cuba.  The  Cubans  would 
still  be  compelled  to  pay  their  enormous  taxes,  all  the  officials  on 


44        WHY    CUBA    DEMANDS   SELF-GOVERNMENT. 

the  Island  would  still  come  from  Spain  as  they  have  been  coming 
from  time  immemorial.  The  budget  would  still  be  made  in  Spain  to 
suit  the  ideas  of  the  rulers  there,  and  the  Cubans  would  have  just  as 
little  as  ever  to  say  about  the  management  of  affairs  on  their  beauti 
ful  Island. 

Criminals  Protected. 

The  Spanish  Government  always  protects  its  officials  in  Cuba 
when  they  have  been  discovered  in  any  crime.  It  is  very  rarely  that 
they  are  ever  convicted  of  a  crime,  because  the  court  officials  are 
Spaniards  and  protect  them  in  every  possible  way.  Once  in  a  great 
while,  however,  a  Spanish  official  may  be  found  guilty  ;  but,  when  he 
is  sent  to  Spain  where  he  is  to  receive  his  punishment,  he  is  invari 
ably  pardoned.  He  uses  the  money  which  he  has  stolen  from  the 
Cubans  to  secure  his  release  from  serving  any  sentence. 

Mr.  Edward  A.  Gilmore,  an  American,  who  was  employed  on  a 
sugar  plantation  in  Cuba  for  several  years,  gave  the  following  illus 
tration  of  Spanish  justice  in  Cuba  in  one  of  the  New  York  dailies. 
Mr.  Gilmore  says  that  there  was  an  estate  for  sale  in  a  town  not  far 
from  Havana.  One  of  the  Superior  Judges  wanted  the  estate  and 
began  negotiating  for  it.  At  the  same  time  a  young  Cuban  lawyer 
decided  that  the  estate  was  a  property  that  would  suit  him.  He 
went  to  the  owner,  closed  a  contract  with  him,  and  the  deed  was 
made  out.  When  the  Spanish  judge  heard  that  he  had  lost  the 
estate  he  determined  to  secure  it,  notwithstanding  it  had  been  sold 
to  another  party. 

He  made  a  charge  of  fraud  or  some  kind  01  illegality  against  the 
young  lawyer,  had  the  case  tried  before  himself,  promptly  decided 
against  the  young  lawyer,  throwing  him  into  prison  for  an  alleged 
violation  of  the  law,  and  confiscated  the  estate.  Mr.  Gilmore  closes 
his  recital  of  this  incident  by  saying  that  this  case  is  only  one  of  a 
score  of  other  cases  of  which  he  has  personal  knowledge.  "  The 
arrogance  and  injustice  of  the  Spanish  rulers,"  he  says,  "and  the 
long-suffering  spirit,  the  humility  of  the  Cubans  under  the  outrage 
ous  oppression  from  which  they  suffer,  are  simply  incredible  to  one 
who  does  not  know  the  facts." 


WHY   CUBA   DEMANDS   SELF-GOVERNMENT.       45 

The  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  Spanish  Cortes  to  deceive,  to  hum 
bug  the  Cubans  into  the  idea  that  they  were  going  to  give  them 
home  rule,  when  they  had  no  intention  of  so  doing,  certainly  hastened 
the  present  uprising.  After  suffering  so  many  years  from  the  injus 
tice  of  their  rulers,  showing  their  discontent  by  several  uprisings, 
notably  the  war  of  1868  which  lasted  for  ten  years,  the  Cubans 
thought  that  Spain  might  finally  reform  the  terrible  abuses  under 
which  they  had  suffered  so  long.  But  Spain  gave  them  nothing. 
Now,  Cuba  is  fighting  for  the  reforms  which  she  vainly  tried  to  secure 
by  peaceable  means. 

Hypocritical  Promises. 

Spain  talked  about  giving  Cuba  home  rule,  but  there  was  not  the 
slightest  intention  of  giving  to  Cuba  even  the  kind  of  home  rule  that 
Canada  enjoys.  Canada  has  her  own  Legislature,  makes  her  own 
laws,  and  has  her  own  government  employes  appointed  from  among 
her  own  people ;  and  England,  the  mother  country,  only  sends  there 
a  Governor-General.  But  that  is  not  the  case  with  Cuba,  and  Spain 
would  never  give  that  kind  of  government  to  the  Cubans,  if  they 
wanted  it,  which  they  do  not. 

There  is  really  occasion  for  but  very  little  commercial  intercourse 
between  Spain  and  Cuba,  because  the  United  States  sends  to  the 
Island  about  everything  that  its  inhabitants  need,  while,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  United  States  is  Cuba's  great  market  for  sugar.  Spain 
cannot  buy  her  sugar.  Spain  cannot  supply  her  with  flour.  The 
flour  that  reaches  Cuba  is  first  sent  to  Spain,  and  from  there  to  Cuba, 
so  that  the  Spaniards  may  collect  a  duty  from  the  Islanders.  In  that 
way  the  Cuban  pays  very  dear  for  his  flour,  whereas  he  ~ould  obtain 
it  very  cheap  if  complete  commercial  intercourse  existed  between  the 
two  countries. 

The  great  advantage  which  Spain  has  in  Cuba,  and  will  hold  on  to 
until  it  is  forcibly  wrested  from  her,  is  that  she  has  her  own  officer 
on  the  Island  to  make  up  the  budget,  so  that  it  will  be  to  the  profit 
of  Spain  without  regard  to  the  benefit  of  the  Cubans.  She  wants  the 
Island  to  pay  for  her  army  and  navy,  consular  expenses,  and  the 


46       WHY   CUBA   DEMANDS   SELF-GOVERNMENT. 


salaries  of  the  Spanish  officials  sent  to  Cuba,  who  steal  from  the 
people  as  much  again  as  they  are  paid  for  their  services.  Oh  no; 
Spain  will  never  grant  home  rule  in  any  sense  of  the  word  to  Cuba, 
from  which  she  derives  such  a  large  revenue  for  her  lazy  and  venal 
officials. 

The  present   uprising  is,  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  a  real  revolu 

tion,  because  it  comes  from  the 
whole  people.  The  previous 
struggles  for  Cuban  independence 
have  generally  been  inspired  by 
a  few  men  occupying  high  posi 
tions.  At  such  times  the  mass 
of  the  people  were  not  conscious 
of  their  rights,  but,  in  the  present 
great  struggle,  which  we  firmly 
believe  will  result  in  giving  self- 
government  to  Cuba,  the  whole 
people,  the  lower  as  well  as  the 
higher  classes,  have  engaged  their 
sympathies  in  the  movement,  and, 
as  far  as  they  are  able  to  do  so, 
they  give  their  aid.  They  have 
had  their  eyes  opened  to  the  leg 
islative  policy  of  Spain  and  her 
false  promises  of  righting  the 
wrongs  of  Cuba.  They  are  indignant  at  the  treatment  they  have 
received  at  her  hands,  both  at  home  and  in  the  Cortes,  and  they  are 
thoroughly  aroused  to  fight  for  the  rights  that  they  have  been  vainly 
demanding  for  the  past  seventy  years. 

It  is  not  the  fault  of  the  Cubans  that  they  have  appealed  to  arms. 
They  would  be  only  too  glad  to  secure  their  liberty  without  the  aid 
of  war ;  but  it  has  been  plainly  and  repeatedly  demonstrated  to  them 
that  they  cannot  obtain  their  rights  without  a  physical  struggle. 
*'  Who  would  be  free,  themselves  must  strike  the  blow."  And  so  it 
is  that  in  all  orders  of  Cuban  society,  from  the  ignorant  Negro  to  the 


SALVADOR    CISNEROS, 
President  of  the  Cuban  Republic. 


WHY    CUBA   DEMANDS   SELF-GO  VERM  MENT.       47 

intelligent  merchant  and  the  educated  man  of  letters,  all  are  inspired 
with  one  thought,  all  are  animated  with  one  resolve — the  indepen 
dence  of  Cuba. 

The  revolutionists  in  Cuba  fight  according  to  two  methods,  one  is 
the  guerrilla  method,  and  the  other  is  by  massing  their  troops  and 
fighting  the  Spanish  forces  in  the  open  field.  Whenever  they  can 
secure  an  advantageous  position  to  meet  the  enemy  in  the  open  field 
they  mass  two  or  three  thousand  or  more  men,  and  battle  with  the 
Spaniards ;  then  they  divide  their  forces  into  bands  of  two  or  three 
hundred  each  and  engage  in  guerrilla  warfare.  They  are  glad  to 
meet  the  enemy  face  to  face,  and  do  so  when  they  can  secure  an 
opportunity.  The  revolution  has  extended  from  the  eastern  part 
very  far  into  the  western  end  of  the  land.  I  should  say  that  the 
revolution  extends  over  four-fifths  of  the  Island. 

Arms  and  Ammunition. 

It  is  not  possible  for  the  insurgents  to  fight  in  the  towns  along  the 
coast,  because  they  are  guarded  by  Spanish  war  ships,  still  we  have 
troops  on  the  coast,  and  we  are  able  to  protect  the  landing  of  new 
comers  who  are  going  to  join  our  army,  and  also  to  land  the  arms 
and  ammunition,  which  are  continually  being  sent  to  the  troops. 
Many  of  the  firearms  used  by  the  insurgents  have  been  captured  by 
them  Irom  their  enemies.  Fourteen  thousand  rounds  of  ammunition 
were  captured  in  one  engagement  alone. 

I  think  there  are  some  Cubans  who  are  anxious  that  their  Island 
shall  be  annexed  to  the  United  States  as  soon  as  possible ;  but  there 
are  many  more,  in  fact  a  vast  majority,  who  believe  that  the  question 
of  annexation  is  a  long  way  off,  and  is  not  to  be  considered  until 
the  Cubans  themselves  have  tried  an  independent  government.  This 
last-named  class  see  no  necessity  for  annexing  Cuba  politically  to  the 
United  States,  because  she  is  already  annexed  to  this  country  com 
mercially.  They  see  no  reason  why  Cuba  should  form  a  part  of  the 
United  States.  When  Cuba  once  secures  her  independence  the 
Cuban  people  will  then,  through  the  exercise  of  the  suffrage,  decide 
the  kind  of  government  they  v'll  have. 


48        WHY    CUBA    DEMANDS    SELF-GOVERNMENT. 

It  may  possibly  be  that  a  majority  of  the  people  will  decide  that 
they  want  the  Island  annexed  to  the  United  States,  or  the  vote  may 
show  a  desire  on  the  part  of  the  Cubans  to  be  an  independent  nation. 
That  question  is  only  to  be  decided  after  independence  has  been 
;ecured.  The  first  and  foremost  thing  before  us  now  is  to  get  rid  of 

the  Spanish  Government.  When 
once  that  has  been  done  and  Cuban 
independence  has  been  secured  the 
question  of  annexation  can  be  de 
cided. 

We  are  now  printing  a  pamphlet 
which  will  recite  the  causes  of  the 
war,  the  many  grievances  from  which 
Cuba  has  suffered  so  long  at  the 
hands  of  Spain,  and  her  determi 
nation  to  rid  herself  of  the  Span 
ish  yoke.  This  history  of  Spanish 
rule  in  Cuba  will  be  laid  before  our 
members  of  Congress.  This  will 
help  them  in  their  consideration  of 
BARTOLOME  MASSO,  the  Cuban  question,  and  prove  con- 

Vice-President  of  the  Cuban  Republic.          ,       .      ,        ,  . 

clusively  that  our  cause  is  as  just  as 
was  the  cause  of  the  Americans  in  the  Revolution. 

There  will  be  no  argument  about  annexation.  What  we  demand, 
what  we  must  have  first  of  all  is  independence.  It  is  too  late  now  to 
consider  any  scheme  of  home-rule,  however  feasible  such  a  sugges 
tion  may  have  been  in  the  past.  "  Independence  "  is  the  watchword 
of  the  Cuban,  first,  last  and  all  the  time. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  February,  1895,  the  delegates  of  the  revo 
lution  adopted  their  Constitution,  solemnly  declaring  the  separation 
of  Cuba  from  the  Spanish  monarchy  and  the  constitution  of  Cuba, 
as  a  free  and  independent  State,  under  the  name  of  the  Republica  de 
Cuba. 

The  officials  of  the  New  Republic  were  chosen  as  follows  :  Presi 
dent,  Salvador  Cisneros  Betancourt,  Marquis  of  Santa  Lucia ;  Vice- 


WHY    CUBA   DEMANDS   SELF-GOVERNMENT.       49 

President,  Bartolome  Masso ;  Secretary  of  War,  Carlos  Roloff;  Dele 
gate  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary,  Tomas  Estrada  Palma  ;  General- 
in-Chief  of  the  Army,  Maximo  Gomez  ;  Lieutenant-General,  Antonio 
Maceo  ;  Major- Generals,  Serafin  Sanchez,  Francisco  M.  Carrillo. 

From  the  united  voice  of  the  American  press,  from  resolutions 
offered  in  Congress,  and  every  other  possible  source,  there  were 
expressions  of  sympathy  for  the  "  Queen  of  the  Antilles  "  in  her 
gallant  struggle  for  liberty.  The  following  poem  aptly  voices  the 
feeling  of  the  American  people : 

For  Cuba. 

BY  MAURICE  THOMPSON. 

Have  you  heard  the  call  from  Cuba 

Coming  northward  on  the  breeze  ? 
Ha^e  you  seen  the  dark  cloud  hanging 

To  the  southward  o'er  the  seas  ? 

It  is  a  gasp  for  liberty, 

That  shudders  on  the  air  ; 
Spain  has  relit  her  torture-fires, 

And  men  are  writhing  there. 

Oppression's  tempest  gathers  force, 

Its  tidal  wave  rolls  high  ; 
Old  Europe's  shadow  dims  the  stars 

We  kindled  in  the  sky. 

The  time  is  come  for  action, 

Now  let  the  right  prevail ; 
Shall  all  our  boasted  sympathy 

With  slaves  downtrodden  fail  ? 

Shall  we  be  mockers  of  the  faith 

By  which  our  course  was  set  ? 
Shall  we  deny  what  we  received 

From  men  like  Lafayette  ? 

Help !  help  !  the  swarthy  patriots  cry, 

While  Spaniards  beat  them  down, 
Because  they  will  not  bend  the  knee 

To  one  who  wears  a  crown. 


50       WHY   CUBA  DEMANDS  SELF-GOVERNMENT. 

The  hoary,  mediaeval  lie, 

That  robes  the  power  of  kings, 
And  rivets  chains  on  bleeding  hands. 

Once  more  its  logic  brings. 

At  subtle  diplomatic  pleas 

Let  free-born  statesmen  scoff; 
Poor,  drowning  Cuba  grips  our  skirt, — 

Shall  Freedom  shake  her  off? 

Oh  no  !  fling  out  the  fleet  and  flag, 

To  shield  her  from  the  storm, 
And  let  that  splendid  Island  feel 

The  clasp  of  Freedom's  arm. 

Early  it  became  evident  that  there  was  a  strong  feeling  throughout 
America,  extending  to  our  lawmakers  at  Washington,  in  favor  of  the 
Cuban  cause.  Senator  Frye  of  Maine  said  : 

"  If  Spain,  by  her  actions  at  any  time,  justified  us  in  so  doing,  I 
would  seize  and  hold  Cuba  against  the  world.  This  Island  has  been 
nothing  but  a  sponge  to  be  squeezed  by  Spain,  utterly  regardless  of 
the  interests  of  the  people  living  there.  Annexed  to  our  country  it 
would  soon  become  a  paradise.  As  the  residents  are  entirely  fit  for 
American  citizenship,  I  regard  the  acquisition  of  Cuba,  as  impera 
tively  demanded,  commercially  and  politically." 

The  revolution  in  Cuba  was  the  subject  of  a  good  deal  of  anxious 
conversation  among  public  men  in  Washington.  The  fact  that  the 
previous  rebellion  lasted  for  ten  years,  and  cost  such  a  large  sum  of 
money  to  Spain,  which,  however,  she  has  since  shouldered  on  Cuba, 
led  many  of  the  public  men  to  believe  that  the  present  outbreak 
would  be  much  more  serious.  It  started  out  under  much  better  con 
ditions  than  the  last  rebellion,  and  the  fact  that  Spain  was  sending 
such  a  large  body  of  troops  to  Cuba  conclusively  demonstrated  to  the 
Jnd  of  the  public  that  the  revolution  was  a  very  serious  affair. 

While  there  was  no  disposition  to  act  unfriendly  to  Spain,  the  sym 
pathies  of  the  public  men  in  Washington  were  all  with  the  Cubans. 
It  was  recognized  that  the  Island  had  been  outrageously  treated  by 
Spain  and  that  the  financial  burdens  imposed  on  it  were  more  than 


YtfHY    CUBA   DEMANDS   SELF-GOVERNMENT.       51 

the  people  could  bear.  Every  fresh  trouble  would  add  to  the  burdens 
of  Cuba  because  Spain  makes  Cuba  pay  the  cost  of  putting  down  the 
revolution,  and  bear  every  item  of  expense  incurred  by  Spain  in  be 
half  of  Cuba. 

A  prominent  Senator  remarked  that  sooner  or  later  Cuba  would  be 
a  part  of  the  United  States,  and  that  while  people  might  smile  over 
the  outspoken  words  of  Senator  Frye  and  Senator  Call  on  the  sub 
ject,  yet  nine  out  of  every  ten  members  agreed  with  Mr.  Frye  and 
Mr.  Call  on  this  subject. 


LAND  VIEW  OF  MORRO   CASTLE. 


Owned  by  the  United  States,  Cuba  would  be  tremendously  pros 
perous  and  would  save  this  country  from  importing  from  any  other 
nation  sugar,  tobacco,  oranges  and  other  things  now  largely  im 
ported.  This  feeling  would  lead  to  a  good  deal  of  aid  being  given 
indirectly  to  the  revolutionists. 

It  was  agreed  that  the  Government  would  enforce  the  neutrality 
laws  in  every  manner  possible,  but  it  would  be  absolutely  impossible 
to  prevent  small  expeditions  from  reaching  Cuba  from  the  coast  r»f 
Florida.  The  Spanish  Minister  complained  because  munitions  of  war 
were  allowed  to  be  shipped  from  the  United  States  to  Central  Ameri- 


52       WHY    CUBA  DEMANDS   SELF-GOVERNMENT. 

can  States,  when  the  Minister  maintained  that  they  were  intended  for 
Cuban  revolutionists.  But  there  is  no  law  whatever  to  stop  the  sale 
of  munitions  of  war  during  a  time  of  peace,  even  to  Cubans,  and 
according  to  Spain,  Cuba  was  now  in  a  state  of  peace.  Even  custom 
house  officers  were  under  a  false  impression  in  regard  to  this  matter. 
If  Spain  should  declare  a  state  of  war  in  Cuba  then  the  circumstances 
would  be  different. 

Minister  Murauga  notified  this  Government  that  a  torpedo  boat- 
was  being  fitted  out  in  the  United  States  for  West  Indian  waters,  and 
asked  that  its  departure  be  prevented.  If  this  boat  tried  to  leave  the 
United  States  in  a  completed  condition  it  might  be  seized,  as  a  neutral 
government  is  bound  to  restrain  the  fitting  out  or  sailing  of  armed 
cruisers  of  belligerents,  as  determined  in  the  Alabama  case.  But  in 
1879  Secretary  Evarts  ruled  in  reply  to  an  inquiry  from  Secretary 
Sherman,  that "  a  torpedo  launch,  in  five  sections,  ready  to  be  set  up, 
though  contraband  of  war,  may  be  exported  from  the  United  States 
without  breach  of  neutrality." 

From  an  Eminent  American. 

Our  Consul  General,  Ramon  Williams,  of  Havana,  sent  to  the  State 
Department  a  remarkable  argument  against  the  continuance  of  Span 
ish  rule  in  Cuba  and  in  favor  of  tariff  independence.  Reporting 
under  date  of  February  5,  1895,  regarding  the  American  flour  market 
in  the  Island,  he  wrote  : 

"  Spain  is  the  only  country  beside  the  United  States  that  now- sends 
flour  to  the  islands  of  Cuba  and  Puerto  Rico.  But  its  importation 
from  Spain  is  done  in  violation  of  the  natural  economic  law  and  at 
the  expense  of  Cuba  by  lessening  the  purchasing  power  of  her 
exports  in  their  exchange  for  her  imports ;  for  there  is  scarcely  a 
vestige  of  natural  economic  tie  remaining  between  these  colonies  and 
their  mother  country,  statistics  proving,  particularly  in  the  case  of 
Cuba,  that  they  have  to  send  nearly  all  their  exports  for  outlet  to  the 
Jnited  States,  the  beet  sugar  of  Austria,  Belgium,  France,  Germany, 
Holland,  Russia  and  other  countries  having  excluded  the  cane  sugars 
of  all  the  West  India  Islands  as  well  as  those  of  Brazil  and  the 


GENERAL  MAXIMO  GOMEZ. 

This  is  the  portrait  of  the  renowned  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Cuban  Army.  He  conies  from  a  distinguished  family,  to  which 
frequent  reference  is  made  in  Spanish  history.  His  great  ability 
as  a  general  is  equalled  only  by  his  ardent  devotion  to  the  cause  of 
Cuban  freedom.  General  Gomez  is  over  seventy  years  of  age,  and 
2*  proud  to  devote  his  last  days  to  the  cause  he  has  served  so  long. 


GENERAL  ANTONIO  MACEO. 

This  famous  General  is  the  second  in  command  of  the  Cuban 
Army  He  has  had  long  experience  in  the  ranks  of  Cuban  Patriots, 
is  well  educated,  and  is  considered  a  very  able  commander.  His 
achievements  have  given  renown  to  the  cause  of  the  insurgents. 


WHY   CUBA   DEMANDS   SELF-GOVERNMENT.       53 

Hawaiian  Islands  from  the  markets  of  Europe,  leaving  them  depen 
dent  on  that  of  the  United  States.  For  the  effects  are  tantamount  to 
a  second  bounty  wrought  by  Spanish  legislation  in  favor  of  all  other 
sugar-producing  countries  against  Cuba  and  Puerto  Rico." 

Consul  General  Williams  closed  his  report  by  instituting  a  com 
parison  between  the  present  economic  policy  of  Great  Britain  toward 
her  sugar-producing  West  Indian  possessions  and  that  of  Spain 
toward  Cuba,  greatly  to  the  disparagement  of  Spain. 

Mr.  Williams  enclosed  translations  of  articles  published  in  leading 
newspapers  of  Cuba,  and  said : 

"  These  publications  will  likewise  convey  to  the  department  samples 
of  the  public  discontent  prevailing  here  against  the  commercial  sub 
jection  in  which  the  island  is  still  held  by  the  mother  country." 

Thousands  of  Troops. 

Patriotic  Cuban  circles  were  much  excited  over  the  coming  o/* 
General  Martinez  Campos  with  a  couple  of  million  dollars  in  cash, 
a  lot  of  troops  and  a  large  personal  prestige.  It  was  the  same  old 
story  of  thousands  of  troops  sent  by  the  mother  country  to  suppress 
Cuban  insurrection.  Without  inquiring  for  the  causes  of  the  rebel 
lious  feeling,  and  seeking  a  lasting  remedy,  one  in  keeping  with 
justice  and  humanity,  the  answer  to  Cuba's  revolution  was  guns  and 
General  Campos.  When  he  arrived  he  issued  from  Santiago  de 
Cuba  a  proclamation  offering  pardon  to  all  insurgents,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  the  leaders,  who  would  lay  down  their  arms  and  surren 
der.  He  made  preparations  to  immediately  pursue  the  members  oc 
the  bands  who  refused  to  come  in  under  the  proclamation,  and  the 
warfare  against  them  was  to  be  waged  vigorously. 

Governor  General  Campos  pledged  himself  to  carry  out  all  the 
promised  political  and  economical  reforms  for  the  Island  if  he  was 
supported.  He  thought  the  rebellion  would  soon  be  crushed,  but 
that  the  entire  pacification  of  the  Island  would  require  a  long  time 
Campos  warned  the  planters  in  the  interior  against  aiding  the 
insurgents. 

A  newspaper  correspondent  haJ  an  interview  with  the  new  Captain 


54       WHY   CUBA   DEMANDS   SELF-GOVERNMENT. 


General  of  Cuba  before  he  embarked  for  Manzanillo.  He  remained 
in  Santiago  de  Cuba  only  two  days,  and  nearly  every  moment  of 
the  time  was  occupied  in  making  changes  of  military  commanders, 
receiving  deputations  and  holding  consultations  with  subordinates. 
General  Campos  said  he  understood  that  the  press  of  the  United 
States  had  sent  several  representatives  to  Cuba  to  study  the  situation. 
He  felt  gratified  that  there  was  a  desire  to  obtain  facts,  and  he  wel 
comed  such  investigation.  Asked  if  he  proposed  to  take  the  field, 


A   REVOLUTIONARY  OUTPOST. 

he  replied :  "  I  expect  to  go  everywhere.  I  intend  to  direct  the 
movements  of  the  army,  and  to  conduct  operations  that  will  tend  to 
secure  law  and  order  throughout  the  island." 

"  Shall  you  remain  here  or  go  to  Havana  ?" 

The  Marshal  replied  indirectly;  said  he  expected  to  leave  Santiago 
that  evening,  but  would  return. 

"  Are  you  taking  any  step  in  the  "  Allianca  "  affair?  " 

The  Captain-General  shook  his  head  slightly  in  a  deprecating 
manner,  apH,  said  the  subject  was  being  considered  by  Senor  Dupuy 
de  Lome,  Spain's  new  Minister  to  Washington.  "  Senor  Lome  is  3 


WHY   CUBA   DEMANDS   SELF-GOVERNMENT.       5o 

diplomat,"  the  General  remarked,  "  and  the  question  is  for  the  diplo 
mats  of  Spain  and  the  United  States  to  consider.  Spain  desires  to 
be  at  peace  with  the  United  States  and  with  all  other  nations." 

He  was  asked  how  many  revolutionists  are  in  the  field.  "  There 
is  no  army,"  was  the  reply.  "  Small  guerrilla  bands  are  scattered 
about  the  interior  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  Island.  The  country  is 
thinly  settled,  and  very  difficult  for  an  army  to  operate  in.  A  few 
men  who  know  the  paths  can  roam  about  in  the  chapparal,  and  their 
capture  is  difficult.  The  United  States  had  much  trouble  with 
guerrilla  bands  during  the  Civil  War." 

He  was  asked  what  disposition  would  be  made  of  the  members  of 
Maceo's  party,  imprisoned  at  Guantanamo.  The  Marshal  shook  his 
head  emphatically,  and  said  rather  quickly :  "  They  are  in  the  hands 
of  the  law."  Then  he  added  :  "  I  do  not  propose  to  be  severe  with 
out  reason.  When  those  in  arms  put  them  aside  and  submit,  they 
will  be  well  received." 

"  How  about  the  leaders  ?  "  The  Marshal  answered  by  referring 
to  his  proclamation,  in  which  amnesty  was  made  the  reward  for  sur 
render,  but  the  leaders  were  not  included.  The  Captain-General,  at 
the  close  of  the  interview,  declined  to  issue  to  the  correspondent  a 
special  permit  to  travel  in  the  interior,  but  said :  "  The  country  is 
before  you ;  go  and  see  for  yourself.  Your  passport  as  a  citizen  of 
the  United  States  will  protect  you  in  legitimate  travel." 


CHAPTER   IV. 
Beginning  of  the  War. 

P)ETWEEN  April    i  Tt  and    I2th,   1895,  Marti  and  Gomez,  the 

[j  Cuban  exiles,  with  a  handful  of  companions,  landed  at  Baracoa, 
on  the  eastern  coast  of  Cuba,  and  proclaimed  the  republic. 
The  effect  of  this  bold  move  was  instantaneous.  The  news  spread 
from  end  to  end  of  the  Island,  and  although  the  friends  of  Cuba  thought 
the  movement  ill-timed,  hundreds  of  sympathizers  flocked  to  the 
patriot  standard.  Like  a  prairie  fire  before  a  brisk  breeze,  the  single 
spark  of  insurrection  fired  the  dry  tinder  of  the  oppressed  Cubans, 
and  the  rebellion  grew  in  volume  as  it  flew  westward. 

This  is  not  Spain's  first  experience  of  the  temper  of  her  colony. 
For  the  past  seventy  years  conspiracy,  insurrection,  rebellion  and  red 
war  have  followed  one  another  in  endless  progression.  A  few  words 
will  suffice  to  explain  the  causes  leading  up  to  the  latest  revolution. 

Cuba  became  a  possession  of  Spain  by  the  right  of  discovery  on 
Columbus'  second  voyage.  He  named  it  Juana,  after  the  son  of 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  and  it  has  successively  been  known  as  Juana, 
Fernandina,  Santiago,  Ave  Maria  and  Cuba,  the  latter  being  the 
native  name  of  the  "  Queen  of  the  Antilles."  It  was  colonized  by 
Spain,  and  its  early  history  is  a  series  of  sacks  and  ravages  by  Euro 
pean  foes.  Not  until  the  rule  of  Captain-General  Las  Casas,  begin 
ning  1790,  did  prosperity  begin. 

Under  his  guidance  agriculture  and  commerce  flourished,  and  the 
condition  of  the  native  population  was  ameliorated.  The  effect  of 
his  sagacious  rule  was  felt  for  over  thirty  years,  and  when  Napoleon 
deposed  the  royal  family  of  Spain  every  member  of  the  local  govern 
ment  took  oath  to  preserve  the  Island  for  their  monarchy,  and,  going 
even  further,  they  declared  war  against  the  French  conqueror.  This 
much  to  show  the  instinctive  feeling  of  the  colony  toward  the  mother 
country. 
66 


BEGINNING   OF  THE   WAR.  67 

Spanish  coffers  were  empty  with  the  restoration  of  the  Bourbons 
in  the  person  of  Ferdinand  VII. ,  and  Spain's  mistress  looked  with 
hungry  eyes  upon  the  rich  Island  with  her  1800  miles  of  sea  coast, 
gemmed  with  prosperous  ports,  and  her  plantations  of  indigo,  sugar, 
tobacco  and  fruit.  It  was  Fortunata's  purse  wherein  Spain  might 
dip  her  fingers,  and  forever  find  it  full  to  overflowing.  With  this 
discovery  came  oppressive  taxation.  With  the  gradual  impoverish 
ment  of  Spain  came  added  demands.  Then  the  deprivation  of  all 
civil,  political  and  religious  liberty,  and  the  exclusion  of  Cubans 
from  all  public  stations,  and  in  order  to  enforce  this  the  Cubans  were 
taxed  to  support  a  standing  army  and  navy — their  jailors. 

Conspiracy  of  the  "Black  Eagle." 

With  their  oppression  came  their  desire  for  liberty.  In  1829  the 
Black  Eagle  conspiracy  arose,  the  purpose  of  which  was  to  throw  off 
the  Spanish  yoke.  It  was  suppressed,  but  was  followed  in  1840  by 
an  insurrection  of  the  colored  population.  After  smouldering  and 
blazing  for  a  while  the  fires  of  insurrection  were  smotkered  only  to 
break  out  eight  years  later  in  a  genuine  conspiracy  of  the  Cubans 
under  the  leadership  of  Narcisso  Lopez.  This  rebellion  was  quelledy 
and  Lopez  fled.  In  1850  he  landed  in  Cuba  with  600  men  from  the 
United  States.  He  made  a  third  attempt  in  1851,  and  together  with 
most  of  his  companions  was  captured  and  executed  by  the  Spanish 
authorities. 

The  Reformist  party,  which  sprang  up  at  this  time,  succeeded  in 
getting  an  inquiry  of  the  abuses  at  Madrid,  with  the  result,  however, 
of  increased  taxation.  In  1868  the  Advance  party  in  Cuba  rose  in 
the  district  of  Bayamo,  and  on  October  10,  1868,  signed  a  declaration 
of  independence  at  Manzanillo.  Their  first  successes  were  so  great 
that  almost  all  the  Spanish- American  republics  recognized  the  insur 
gents  as  belligerents.  After  a  war  of  ten  years,  that  was  confined  to 
the  mountainous  regions  east  of  the  town  of  Puerto  Principe,  the 
rebellion  was  put  down.  To  confine  it  to  that  locality  the  Spanish 
troops  built  a  great  fortified  trench,  known  as  La  Trocha,  across  the 
entire  width  of  the  island,  in  the  western  portion  of  the  State  of 


58  BEGINNING   OF   THE  WAR, 

Puerto  Principe.  It  was  here  that  Captain-General  Campos,  the 
commander  of  the  Spanish  army,  drew  up  his  forces  in  the -summer 
of  1895,  to  prevent  the  eastward  march  of  the  insurgents,  who  were 
now  heavily  reinforced. 

All  during  the  .summer  of  1895  the  insurgents  leaders  were  organ 
izing  their  forces  and  receiving  supplies  of  arms  and  ammunition. 
The  people  were  flocking  to  the  standard  of  revolt,  and  during  Octo 
ber,  1895,  Gomez  and  Maceo  with  ease  penetrated  the  lines  of  the 
Spanish  captain-general,  crossing  La  Trocha,  and  causing  the  regular 
troops  to  ^all  back  to  a  line  just  east  of  Remedies.  The  insurgents 
still  pushing  on,  this  was  followed  by  a  retreat  of  Campos  to  Sant? 
Clara,  in  the  province  of  Santa  Clara,  still  further  west. 

Two  Cuban  Generals. 

Gomez  and  Maceo  were  now  in  supreme  authority,  for  Marti, 
the  great  leader  of  the  revolutionary  party,  died  just  as  the  command 
started  west.  This  blow  to  the  insurgent  cause  was  more  than  offset 
by  the  character  of  the  people  among  which  they  found  themselves. 
Of  all  the  provinces  of  Cuba,  Santa  Clara  is  the  most  outspoken  and 
loyal  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  The  ranks  of  Gomez  and  Maceo  were 
Increased  by  thousands  of  volunteers  of  an  intelligence  and  physical 
strength  superior  even  to  those  of  Santiago.  Horses  were  procured 
in  abundance,  and  the  bulk  of  the  insurgent  army  was  formed  into  a 
speedy  and  well-equipped  cavalry.  They  were  armed  with  rifles,  and 
carried  with  them  an  abundance  of  ammunition.  Each  man  also 
carried  a  machete,  which  is  a  long,  heavily-weighted  iron  knife,  used 
by  the  sugar-planters  to  cut  the  cane,  and  by  all  travelers  to  open  up 
paths  through  the  heavy  tropical  underbrush.  They  are  terrible 
weapons  in  the  hands  of  the  Cubans,  and  the  Spanish  troops  fear 
them  more  than  the  rifles.  The  insurgents  took  no  supply  train 
with  them.  A  stray  pig  or  fowl  supplied  them  with  supper,  while  an 
ox  meant  dinner  for  a  company.  Thus  prepared,  they  turned  their 
races  toward  the  setting  sun  and  Havana. 

All  this  while  Campos,  the  Spanish  general,  was  "  concentrating/' 
according  to  the  official  dispatches,  In  other  words,  he  was  drawing 


BEGINNING   OF   THE   WAR.  59 

dead- lines  across  the  Island  at  points  where  he  announced  that  he 
would  bring  the  insurgents  to  a  pitched  battle.  Each  successive 
dead  line  was  further  west  than  the  one  preceding  it.  And  each 
time  the  insurgents  slipped  by  the  troops,  leaving  a  harried  country 
behind  them.  Railroads,  bridges  and  roads  destroyed,  plantations 
burned  and  store-houses  empty.  The  troops,  under  the  spur  oi 
necessity,  followed  as  rapidly  as  possible,  leaving  the  insurgents  in 
possession  of  the  country  to  the  east. 

Landing  of  Expeditions. 

In  this  way  not  only  did  the  Cubans  make  this  remarkable  march 
westward,  but  they  garrisoned  it.  In  Santiago  the  insurgents  kept 
the  Spanish  forces  in  the  fortified  cities,  and  in  a  short  time  two  large 
expeditions  successfully  landed  at  that  end  of  the  island.  One, 
armed  with  cannon,  fired  upon  and  crippled  the  "  Nueva  Espana,"  of  the 
Spanish  navy,  while  such  leaders  as  Rabi,  Martinez  and  Aguirre  were 
fighting  as  valiantly  there  as  were  Gomez  and  Maceo  in  the  province 
of  Matanzas. 

Similar  reports  came  from  Puerto  Principe  and  Santa  Clara,  show 
ing  that  the  insurgents  had  complete  control  of  the  interior  of  these 
provinces.  But  Campos  claimed  that  it  was  IT'S  plan  to  get  the 
insurgents  between  his  forces  and  Havana  and  crush  them  as  a  nut  is 
crushed  in  a  nut-cracker. 

Then  came  decisive  attacks  by  the  insurgents.  Campos  was  driven 
from  pillar  to  post,  changing  his  headquarters  from  Santa  Clara  to 
Cienfuegos,  from  Cienfuegos  to  Palmillas,  from  Palmillas  to  Colon, 
from  Colon  to  Jovellanos,  from  Jovellanos  to  Limonare,  from  Limon- 
are  to  Guanabana,  and  from  Guanabana  to  Havana,  where  he  was 
feted  as  a  conqueror  by  the  Spanish  authorities,  and  where  he  received 
telegrams  of  congratulation  from  the  Queen  Regent  of  Spain  and  her 
Prime  Minister. 

Just  prior  to  this  noisy  welcome,  namely,  on  December  24,  1895, 
General  Maximo  Gomez,  at  the  head  of  1 2,000  men,  by  a  feint  turned 
the  flank  of  the  Spanish  commander  at  Colon,  and,  passing  the 
sleepy  old  seaport  of  Matanzas,  marched  straight  on  to  a  point  only 


60  BEGINNING   OF   THE   WAR. 

fifty  miles  from  Havana,  Campos,  with  all  his  80,000  picked  Spanish 
troops,  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding  Christmas  and  New  Year 
were  passed,  and  the  insurgents  were  still  there,  marching  and  coun 
termarching  in  three  columns,  holding  Spain  at  bay,  and  waiting  for 
additional  supplies  of  ammunition  and  arms  before  pushing  on.  The 
grave  question  now  was  what  the  insurgents  would  do  ?  Havana  was 
in  an  agony  of  suspense  and  preparing  for  a  siege.  The  loyalty  of 
the  citizens  was  unquestionable,  as  well  as  that  of  the  Grande  Civil 
or  local  militia.  Campos  and  all  his  troops  seemed  unable  to  cope 
with  the  situation.  It  was  believed  that  should  the  insurgents  push 
on  and  take  Havana,  the  defeat  of  Spain  and  the  liberty  of  Cuba 
would  arrive. 

A  Concise  History  of  the  Struggle. 

These,  in  outline,  are  the  main  facts  of  Cuba's  war  during  the  first 
year  of  its  progress.  The  reader  will  be  interested  in  another  account 
from  a  war  correspondent  in  Cuba,  who  had  ample  opportunity  for 
observation,  and  the  accuracy  of  whose  statements  are  unquestioned. 
Writing  late  in  January,  1896,  he  says  : 

"  The  question  of  the  United  States  recognizing  the  belligerent 
rights  of  the  new  Cuban  republic  is  now  receiving  so  much  attention 
that  a  dispassionate  and  unbiased  account  of  the  state  of  affairs  in  Cuba 
may  help  some  to  a  better  understanding  of  the  situation.  In  view 
of  the  misleading  information  and  exaggeration  of  facts  given  out,  on 
one  hand,  by  Cubans  in  America,  and,  on  the  other,  of  the  mis 
representation  and  concealment  of  truth  by  the  representatives  of  the 
Spanish  side,  facts  gathered  from  the  scenes  of  the  war  and  the  seat 
of  its  causes  may  throw  light  upon  doubts  which  are  entertained  as 
to  the  wisdom  of  America's  policy  up  to  this  time. 

"  The  Cuban  revolution  is  now  within  a  few  days  of  having  turneo 
its  first  year.  It  has  passed  all  the  bounds  of  previous  insurrection. 
It  has  passed  from  the  stage  of  organized  rioting  into  actual  war.  It 
is  no  longer  limited  to  a  conflict  between  classes,  or  confined  to  any 
section  of  the  Island.  It  has  become  a  war  between  two  peoples  who 
are  distinct  in  all  the  characteristics  which  mark  the  differences 


GENERAL    CALIXTO    GARCIA. 

This  renowned  Commander  has  long  been  a  conspicuous  figure 
in  Cuban  insurrections.  >n  the  latter  part  of  1895  he  was  imprisoned 
at  Madrid.  Being  liberated,  he  returned  at  once  to  the  United  States, 
and  was  instrumental  in  organizing  a  formidable  expedition  to  aid 
the  Cuban  Patriots.  He  is  considered  one  of  the  ablest  and  most 
courageous  Commanders  among  the  Insurgents. 


GEN.     MAETTNKZ    CAMPOS 


BEGINNING   OF   THE   WAR.  61 

between  nations.  The  recent  successes  have  resulted  in  the  best 
blood  of  Cuba's  native-born  population  joining  or  aiding  Gomez's 
armies,  and  have  brought  the  issue  to  a  point  which  means  that  the 
price  of  Spanish  victory  would  be  almost  inevitably  the  extermination 
of  some  great  families  and  the  utter  devastation  of  the  Island. 

"  Such  a  victory  would  carry  with  it  the  accumulation  of  a  war 
debt  which  would  impoverish  Cuba  for  two  generations,  and  leave  her 
a  burden  rather  than  a  precious  possession  for  the  so-called  mother 
country.  Without  the  benefits  which  would  come  to  the  Cubans  as 
the  result  of  such  recognition  as  they  ask  from  the  United  States  it  is 
impossible  for  the  revolutionists  to  hasten  the  issue  of  the  war,  and  as 
Spain  cannot  drive  them  unwillingly  into  battles,  only  some  event  now 
entirely  unforeseen  can  prevent  the  prolonging  of  the  war  for  possibly 

a  year  or  more. 

The  Two  Armies. 

"  Both  sides  are  weak,  so  weak  that  the  question  of  which  can  hold 
out  the  longer  is  as  important  as  the  result  of  battles,  perhaps  more 
important  than  the  result  of  the  insignificant  engagements  which  now 
monopolize  all  the  reports  from  the  field.  On  the  side  of  Spain  is  an 
army  drawn  from  a  native  population  of  16,000,000.  On  the  side  of 
Cuba  is  an  army  drawn  from  a  native  population  of  1 ,600,000.  Deal 
ing  with  the  mere  numbers  one  reason  is  apparent  why  Gomez  avoids 
battles  into  which  he  might  throw  his  forces  with  a  certainty  of  victory. 
It  is  hard  for  him  to  replace  his  losses.  Unless  the  killed  were 
nearly  sixteen  to  one  the  ease  with  which  Spain  could  fill  the  gap  in 
her  ranks  where  they  were  nearer  equal  would  be  his  weakness  and 
practically  turn  his  victories  into  disasters. 

"  Spain's  army  is  made  up  of  conscripts,  unpaid,  poverty-stricken, 
most  of  them  too  ignorant  of  military  training  to  march  in  step  at 
guard  mount,  and  so  youthful  that  regiment  after  regiment  would  not 
have  an  average  age  of  above  nineteen  years ;  half-fed,  with  no  com 
missary  department  or  surgical  service  available  after  battles ;  so 
tender  to  the  climate  that  ten  die  of  disease  to  one  in  conflict,  and  so 
neglected  in  the  hospitals  that  the  wounded  generally  die  of  yellow 
fever  contracted  in  the  pest-houses  to  which  they  have  been  taken 


62  BEGINNING   OF  THE    ,,AR. 

from  the  field,  numbering  with  the  Spanish  Cuban  volunteers  recruited 
in  the  Island  about  200,000  men  ;  120,000  of  these  have  come  from 
Spain ;  the  other  80,000  are  from  the  Island.  Of  them  all,  less  than 
500  are  cavalry,  and  of  this  500  at  least  one-half  are  only  mounted 
infantry.  They  are  all  well  armed.  In  commanders,  Spaniards  and 
Cubans,  in  proportion  to  the  numbers,  are  equally  supplied  with 
veterans. 

Fifty  Thousand  Native  Cubans. 

"  The  Cuban  army  numbers  50,000,  half  of  whom  are  in  small 
divisions,  under  captains  or  colonels,  acting  upon  orders  and  in  cam 
paigns  devised  by  Gomez  and  Maceo.  At  least  25,000  of  them  are 
mounted,  but  only  25,000  of  them,  according  to  the  most  trustworthy 
information,  are  supplied  with  modern  arms.  But  the  whole  50,000 
are  native  Cubans,  inured  to  the  climate,  safe  in  the  fever  season  and 
unaffected  by  any  hardship  of  march  or  exposure.  Every  farm 
estate  and  hut  is  their  hospital.  Every  Cuban  woman  is  a  nurse  for 
the  wounded.  Every  farm  and  plantation  is  a  source  of  food  supply. 
Every  Cuban  is  their  guide  and  informant,  prepared  the  next  moment 
to  He  like  a  Turk  to  a  Spanish  column.  These  50,000  men  are 
flushed  with  a  year  of  almost  uninterrupted  successes,  which  have 
resulted  in  the  downfall  of  one  of  Europe's  greatest  generals. 

"  Now,  at  the  end  of  only  one  year,  they  have  the  whole  Island  at 
their  command,  except  its  city  strongholds,  with  the  Spanish  armies 
cut  off  from  communication  with  each  other  except  by  couriers  on 
horses  or  protected  steamers  along  the  coast.  Every  railroad  is 
paralyzed.  The  following  year's  revenues  to  Spain  have  been  prac 
tically  wiped  out  by  the  ruin  of  business  and  the  destruction  of  the 
sugar  cane.  Havana  itself  has  been  declared  by  the  captain-general 
to  be  in  a  state  of  siege.  Gomez,  with  his  army,  has  slept  within 
sight  of  the  city. 

"  The  events  which  have  led  up  to  all  this  make  A  simple  chapter 
of  Spanish  disaster  and  of  Cuban  successes,  with  occasional  reverses, 
during  which  the  more  or  less  guerrilla  warfare  conducted  in  the 
early  stages  has  developed  into  scientific  campaigns,  and  also  in  the 
birth,  on  the  i6th  of  September,  1895,  of  the  Republic  of  Cuba.  The 


BEGINNING  OF  THE  WAR.  63 

war  was  started  through  the  failure  of  Spain  to  put  into  force  reforms 
in  the  government  of  Cuba  which  had  been  granted  by  the  Spanish 
Cortes,  after  a  tremendous  effort  on  the  part  of  the  Island  to  procure 
relief  from  intolerable  evils.  It  is  generally  believed  that  the  Corte& 
did  not  act  in  good  faith,  but  from  a  pressure  to  prevent  a  revolt  from 
what  was  simple  tyranny,  and  that  there  was  never  any  intention  to 
permit  the  reforms  to  go  into  operation. 

"  Calleja  was  then  the  Captain-General  of  the  Island.  He  made  a 
faint  resistance  when  the  first  evidences  oi  the  preparation  Cuba  had 
been  making  for  insurrection  came  to  the  surface  in  Santiago  de 
Cuba,  the  extreme  eastern  province  of  the  Island,  and  the  stronghold 
of  former  revolutions.  It  is  a  rough  country,  where  it  was  supposed 
the  trouble  would  be  confined.  He  declared  the  province  and  that 
of  Puerto  Principe,  adjoining,  to  be  under  martial  law. 

Grand  Uprising  of  Patriots. 

"Between  April  I  and  April  12,  Generals  Gomez,  Antonio  Maceo, 
Jose  Maceo,  Cebreco,  Crombet,  Guerra,  Marti  and  Borrero  landed 
with  men  and  arms,  and  they  were  joined  by  thousands  of  Cubans, 
who  brought  out  from  hiding-places  arms  and  ammunition  which 
they  had  been  collecting  and  concealing  for  years.  It  was  already 
apparent  to  Spain  that  the  insurrection  was  to  be  serious,  and  by 
this  time  General  Campos,  then  her  greatest  military  chief,  was 
already  on  his  way  to  the  Island  with  10,000  men.  He  landed  on 
April  1 6,  1895,  at  Santiago  de  Cuba,  and  made  the  mistake  which 
has  cost  Spain  the  war  and  may  in  the  end  cost  her  all  Cuba. 

"  He  did  not  at  once  put  the  reforms  in  force,  but  announced  that 
'  after  peace  was  restored  '  he  would  '  do  all  in  his  power  to  see  that 
the  reforms  which  had  been  granted  by  the  Cortes  were  put  in  force  ' 
It  is  true  that  already  another  and  greater  object  was  inspiring  the 
Cubans — the  liberty  they  now  demand  ;  but,  if  Campos  had  then, 
instead  of  waiting  three  months,  till  the  insurrection  had  gone  beyond 
his  control,  granted  the  relief  to  Cuba  which  the  Cortes  had  author 
ized,  it  would  have  almost  inevitably  resulted,  notwithstanding  what 
may  be  said  outside  of  Cuba  to-day  to  *he  contrary,  in  the  restoration 


64  BEGINNING   OF  THE   WAR. 

of  peace,  probably  only  temporary ;   but  his  course  precipitated  into 
the  conflict  all  the  elements  which  he  might  have  used  to  prevent  it. 

"At  the  end  of  three  months  Gomez  and  Maceo  had  all  Santiago 
and  Puerto  Principe  in  a  state  of  insurrection.  They  started  out 
with  comparatively  a  handful  of  men.  The  most  reliable  sources 
agree  that  there  were  not  more  than  300.  Thousands  of  Cubans 
joined  them,  furnishing  their  own  horses  and  arms.  Campos  had 
declared  that  Puerto  Principe  would  never  rise  against  Spain,  and 
he  proposed  at  once  a  plan  to  make  it  doubly  sure.  He  procured 
special  concessions  from  Madrid  for  the  foreign  railroads,  permitting 
them  to  import  iron  bridges  to  replace  their  wooden  structures,  and 
pledged  them  $20,000  a  month  until  they  had  extended  their  lines 
and  made  connections  to  complete  a  continuous  road  through  the 
country,  using  the  money  to  employ  the  natives.  This  was  to  insure 
the  peace  of  Puerto  Principe  and  Santa  Clara,  both  considered  con 
servative,  and  to  prevent  the  people  joining  the  revolutionary  party. 

War's  Dire  Destruction. 

"After  the  plan  was  announced  the  revolutionists  burned  out  the 
wooden  bridges,  tore  up  the  tracks  in  many  places,  and  the  roads 
have  been,  for  all  practical  purposes,  in  their  hands  ever  since. 
Campos,  meantime,  to  prevent  Gomez  moving  eastward,  placed 
10,000  troops  on  the  border  between  the  provinces  of  Santiago  and 
Puerto  Principe,  but  Gomez  crossed  the  line  on  May  19,  after  a  battle 
at  Boca  del  Dos  Rios,  where  a  loss  was  suffered  in  the  death  of  Gen. 
Marti,  which  was  so  great  a  blow  to  Cuba  that  Campos  announced 
that  the  '  death  blow  to  the  bandits '  had  been  struck. 

"In. Puerto  Principe  Gomez  captured  every  town  he  attempted  to 
take,  among  them  Alta  Gracia,  San  Jeronimo  and  Coscorro.  He 
took  Fort  El  Mulato,  and  in  all  the  places  secured  large  quantities 
of  ammunition.  So  enthusiastic  was  his  reception  in  the  provinces 
of  Puerto  Principe  and  Santa  Clara  that  in  the  latter  400  Spanish 
volunteers  joined  him  with  their  arms.  Places  in  this  province  that 
fell  in  rapid  succession  were  Las  Veras,  Cantabria,  Fort  Taguaso, 
Guenia  de  Miranda  and  Cayo  Espino. 


BEGINNING   OF  THE   WAR.  65 

"  The  most  important  battle  of  the  summer  occurred  at  Bayamo 
in  July,  just  as  Gomez  was  near  the  Spanish  line  between  Santa  Clara 
and  Puerto  Principe.  Campos  decided  to  relieve  the  distress  of  the 
garrison  at  Bayamo  and  left  Manzanillo,  intending,  after  entering  the 
town,  to  move  quickly  westward,  driving  Gomez  into  the  Spanish 
line,  while  three  other  columns  were  to  surround  Maceo.  Botb 
bands  were  to  be  exterminated  at  once.  On  his  way  to  Bayamc 
Campos  was  met  by  Maceo  and  Rabi  at  Peralajos,  and  in  a  twelve 
hours'  battle,  in  which  about  3,000  men  were  engaged  on  either  side, 
Campos  was  completely  routed. 

"  From  that  time  on  through  the  summer  and  far  into  the  autumn, 
every  day  was  marked  by  skirmishes,  the  taking  of  important  places 
and  the  threatening  of  the  larger  towns.  It  kept  the  Spanish  columns 
moving  constantly,  and  the  exposure  in  the  rainy  season  killed  thou 
sands.  It  was,  doubtless,  Gomez's  purpose  to  conduct  his  summer 
campaign  to  produce  that  effect,  suffering  nothing  by  it  himself.  He 
was  then  planning  the  great  campaign  of  the  winter,  the  execution 
of  which  resulted  in  the  shutting  up  of  Havana.  He  had  accom 
plished  the  destruction  of  all  methods  of  communication  in  the 
interior,  to  the  east,  and  had  issued  his  order  against  the  grinding  of 
sugar  cane,  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  off  Spain's  revenues,  and  had 
announced  that  he  would  take  his  army  clear  through  into  the 
Matanzas  province  to  insure  obedience  to  his  order. 

"Amazing  as  this  declaration  was,  it  was  fairly  good  evidence  of 
Gomez's  modesty.  He  had  not  only  overrun  Matanzas,  but  Havana 
province  as  well,  burning  plantations  within  sight  of  the  city,  where 
the  owners  disobeyed  him,  and  finally  subjugating  th*  province  of 
Pinar  del  Rio,  in  the  extreme  west." 


CHAPTER  V. 
Insurgent  Campaign  in  Western  Cuba. 

EFERENCE  was  made  at  the  close  of  the  preceding  chaptei 
to  ^e  spirited  warlike  operations  of  the  insurgents  in  West 
ern  Cuba.     Carrying  the  war  into  this  section  was  simply 
threatening  Havana,  and  this  was  one  object  of  the  insurgent  leaders. 
Gomez  and  Maceo. 

Enough  of  the  history  of  the  insurrection  has  been  given  to  show 
the  manner  in  which  it  was  carried  on  during  the  first  few  months 
subsequent  to  the  arrival  of  the  Spanish  General  Campos  and  his 
army.  All  his  boasts  of  conquest  failed  of  fulfillment.  He  was  slow 
to  bring  the  insurgents  to  the  point  of  battle,  or  if  he  did  succeed  in 
doing  this,  he  failed  utterly  to  accomplish  his  purpose  of  so  vanquish 
ing  them  as  to  stamp  out  what  he  was  pleased  to  call  the  "  Rebel 
lion,1'  and  bring  the  country  into  a  state  of  peace  and  quietude.  It 
is  more  than  probable  that  some  of  the  skirmishes  in  which  the 
Spanish  troops  claimed  success  were  conducted  by  the  insurgents 
more  for  the  purpose  of  harassing  Campos  and  his  scattered  forces 
than  with  the  idea  of  obtaining  any  great  substantial  victory. 

General  Gomez  and  his  commanding  officers  had  a  full  knowledge 
of  the  country,  knew  all  the  strategic  points,  also  knew  that  they 
were  greatly  outnumbered  by  the  Spanish  forces,  and  that  they  had 
only  to  hold  their  ground  without  being  completely  overthrown,  and 
the  proud  army  of  Spain  would  be,  partially  at  least,  defeated  by  dis 
ease  and  the  disastrous  effects  of  the  climate,  to  which  they  were  not 
accustomed.  Certain  it  is  that  after  the  operations  of  General  Campos 
had  been  carried  on  for  months,  the  insurgents  were  as  strong  and 
well-disciplined  as  ever,  while  in  the  provinces  which  they  occupied 
they  constantly  received  recruits  from  those  dissatisfied  spirits  who 
were  ready  to  join  the  patriot  army  in  its  daring  and  determined 
effort  to  throw  off  the  Spanish  yoke. 
66 


INSURGENT   CAMPAIGN   IN   WESTERN    CUBA.       67 

In  order  to  understand  the  progress  of  events,  it  is  necessary  to 
describe  the  campaign  of  the  insurgents  in  the  province  of  Pinar 
del  Rio. 

When  Gomez  retired  from  this  province  he  left  Maceo  there,  and 
took  up  a  position  east  of  the  Spanish  line,  where  he  remained  near, 
but  refused  tc  give  battle  to  the  Spanish.  He  had  been  waiting  for 
Maceo's  work  to  be  finished.  All  this  time  he  has  been  within  ten 
miles  of  Havana,  and  never  more  than  twenty-five  miles  away.  The 
highest  officers  in  command  of  the  field  operations  of  the  Spanish, 
commenting  upon  the  strength  of  the  new  "  wall  of  men,"  said  that 
"  if  only  Gomez  were  in  so  tight  a  place  as  Maceo,  both  would  soon 
be  wiped  out,  as  they  were  hopelessly  separated,  Maceo  burdened 
with  wounded  men,  and  Gomez  between  lines  rapidly  converging." 

A  March  of  Repeated  Victories. 

The  truth  is  that  they  had  not  endeavored  to  meet,  but  Maceo  had 
gone  to  the  extreme  end  of  Cuba,  occupying  its  most  western  city, 
driving  the  garrison  of  that  town  down  to  the  shore,  where  they 
fought  on  the  sand-beach,  under  the  fire  of  a  Spanish  cruiser  out  at 
sea.  Maceo's  march  had  been  one  of  repeated  victories.  Towns 
surrendered  without  resistance ;  around  others  there  were  some  slight 
encounters.  Portions  of  several  Spanish  garrisons  joined  the  revolu 
tionists  with  their  arms. 

More  than  2,000  recruits  were  made.  The  new  government  was 
established  in  the  cities  and  towns  of  Mantua,  San  Cristobal,  Remates, 
Palacios,  Paso  Real  de  San  Diego,  Guane,  Consolacion  del  Sur, 
Pilotos,  Alonso  de  Rojas,  San  Luis,  San  Juan  y  Martinez,  and  other 
less  important  places. 

The  capital  of  the  province,  Pinar  del  Rio  City,  was  the  one  place 
of  great  importance  that  held  out,  but  it  was  cut  off  from  communi> 
cation  with  its  port,  Colon,  and  was  short  of  provisions.  One  supply 
sent  by  the  Spanish  for  its  relief,  100,000  rations,  fell  into  Maceo's 
hands. 

Maceo's  march  began  as  soon  as  he  had  left  Gomez,  near  the  lower 
border,  between  Havana  and  Pinar  del  Rio  provinces  He  had  2,000 


68       INSURGENT   CAMPAIGN   IN  WESTERN   CUBA. 

mounted  men,  all  armed,  in  divisions  under  Gens.  Zayas,  Varuna, 
Vivo  and  Gomez  Rubio.  Almost  immediately  the  forces  were 
divided,  Maceo,  with  the  main  body,  moving  southwest,  and  a  small 
division,  under  Varona,  taking  a  western  course  through  the  northern 
country,  to  reunite  with  Maceo  at  the  western  extremity  of  the  pro 
vince.  In  this  way  it  was  designed  to  cover  at  once  the  sides  of  a 
great  loop,  embracing  every  important  point  in  the  province. 

The  Spanish  Forces  Scattered. 

Gomez's  retreat  had  been  misunderstood  by  the  Spanish,  and  when 
Maceo  moved,  the  Spanish  forces  were  scattered  and  unprepared  to 
check  him,  being  to  the  east,  where  they  supposed  the  centre  of 
operations  was  to  remain,  near  Gomez.  With  trifling  losses,  and  the 
wounding  of  but  a  handful  of  his  men,  Maceo  entered  Candelaria  and 
San  Cristobal  on  the  same  day,  the  third  of  his  march. 

In  San  Cristobal  the  Spanish  flag  on  the  government  building  was 
replaced  by  the  emblem  of  the  new  republic,  a  mayor  and  city  officials 
were  appointed,  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  new  authorities,  and, 
after  all  the  arms  in  the  town  had  been  collected,  and  forty  or  fifty 
mounted  recruits  had  been  made,  Maceo  remained  a  day  to  rest  his 
men  and  horses,  and  moved  on  the  following  morning  at  daybreak 
toward  Palacios,  just  north  of  which  lies  Banos  de  San  Diego.  He 
took  both  these  places,  and  the  same  scenes  were  repeated,  the  people 
decorating  their  houses  and  flying  white  flags  from  every  roof  as  a 
token  of  their  allegiance  to  the  cause. 

By  this  time  the  Spanish  saw  the  trend  of  Maceo's  plans,  and 
Generals  Nevarro  and  Luque  were  ordered  to  pursue  the  insurgent 
army,  reinforcements  at  the  same  time  being  ordered  to  Pinar  del  Rio 
City.  The  garrison  at  Guanajay  was  strengthened,  and  an  additional 
force  was  dispatched  from  Havana  to  proceed  on  a  steamer  along  the 
south  coast  to  Columa,  to  reach  Pinar  del  Rio,  if  possible,  before 
Maceo  had  arrived. 

Nevarro  made  all  haste,  but  was  not  out  of  sight  of  Guanajay, 
where  he  had  left  the  terminus  of  the  railroad,  before  he  came  upon 
burning  cane  fields,  whose  owners  had  disobeyed  Gomez's  proclama- 


INSURGENT   CAMPAIGN   IN   WESTERN   CUBA.       69 

tion  against  grinding.  Navarro  and  Luque  had  together  5,000 
infantry,  200  cavalry  and  1 1  pieces  of  artillery.  They  found  that  the 
cattle  had  been  gathered  up  by  insurgents  or  hidden  by  their  owners ; 
but,  learning  that  Maceo  was  at  least  two  days'  march  ahead,  they 
were  able  to  move  with  freedom,  and  by  forced  marches  came  to  the 
San  Juan  del  Rio  sugar  estate,  where  the  next  day  General  Navarro 
met  General  Arizon's  command,  which  had  encountered  Maceo's  rear 
guard  the  previous  day.  Arizoh  had  lost,  as  nearly  as  can  be  learned, 
five  men,  and  had  several  wounded,  and  was  waiting  there  to  join 
Navarro's  division. 

General  Navarro  had  sent  a  detachment  after  the  smaller  body  of 
insurgents  moving  on  the  north,  but  further  than  a  few  encounters 
with  some  small  bands,  which  may  have  been  either  skirmish  lines  or 
independent  companies  of  insurgents,  their  pursuit  was  fruitless,  and 
they  arrived  at  Cabanas,  on  the  north  coast,  the  day  after  the  insur 
gents  had  taken  the  place,  disarmed  the  volunteer  garrison,  secured 
11,000  rounds  of  ammunition,  and  retired  with  the  loss  of  two  men. 
This  loss  was  confirmed  by  the  Spanish  official  reports. 

Fled  in  Disorder. 

To  come  back  to  General  Navarro,  after  being  joined  at  the  San 
Juan  estate  by  Arizon's  command,  he  moved  on  toward  Quivera 
Hacha,  and  near  there  came  up  to  Maceo,  who  had  meantime  estab 
lished  the  insurgent  government  in  Consolacion  and  Rio  Hondo,  and 
was  preparing  to  move  upon  Pinar  del  Rio  City.  Near  Quivera 
Hacha  Navarro's  skirmishers  encountered  a  small  band  of  mounted 
insurgents.  There  was  rapid  firing,  and  almost  instantly  400  of  the 
insurgents  rode  down  upon  Navarro's  extreme  vanguard,  under  Lieu 
tenant  La  Torre,  and  came  within  fifty  yards,  shouting  "  Machete," 
firing  but  few  shots  and  retiring  without  attacking. 

The  cry  of  "  Machete,"  the  name  of  the  half-sword-like  weapons 
which  the  Cubans  use  with  such  deadly  effect  in  much  of  their 
fighting,  terrified  the  Spanish,  and  considerable  disorder  followed. 
Fearing  that  all  Maceo's  army  was  at  hand,  lines  of  battle  were 
quickly  formed,  the  main  body  being  well  protected  by  a  cactus 


70      INSURGENT   CAMPAIGN   iN    VvESTERN    CUBA. 

fence.  Two  divisions  were  deployed  right  and  left  in  cane  fields,  part 
of  which  had  been  burned.  About  1 ,000  of  Maceo's  men  were  on 
higher  ground,  and  although  firing  lasted  twenty  minutes,  the  losses 
on  either  side  were  not  serious  when  the  insurgents  withdrew.  None 
«$>f  Nevarro's  cavalry  or  artillery  took  part  in  the  action. 

The  Spanish  followed  them,  prepared  for  an  ambush  at  any 
moment,  as  the  cane  and  underbrush  were  dense,  but  reached  the 
Begona  sugar  estate  safely,  where,  coming  out  into  the  open,  they 
were  within  sight  of  1000  of  Maceo's  men,  two  miles  southwest, 
moving  away.  The  Spanish  during  the  day  lost,  according  to  the 
best  information  from  both  sides,  about  twenty-five  men  killed  and 
wounded.  Regarding  Maceo's  losses  the  Spanish  report  said:  "The 
rebels  must  have  lost  several  men." 

Gen.  Maceo  at  the  Front. 

The  Cubans  say  they  did  not  lose  a  man,  and  no  dead  were  found 
on  the  field.  At  the  Begona  estate  Gen.  Navarro  learned  that  he  had 
been  engaged  with  only  a  small  part  of  Maceo's  forces,  and  that  the 
main  command  was  at  the  Armendares  estate. 

The  seat  of  operations  at  once  changed  to  the  vicinity  of  Pinar  del 
Rio,  Gen.  Luque  succeeding  Gen.  Navarro  in  command  of  the  aggres 
sive  movements  against  Maceo,  who,  learning  of  the  relief  being  sent 
to  the  city,  tried  to  intercept  it,  probably  in  expectation  of  the  valu  • 
able  capture  which  he  subsequently  made.  His  rapid  progress  with 
his  cavalry,  the  Spanish  following  on  foot,  of  course  resulted  in 
several  days  passing  without  an  engagement.  The  first  encounter 
took  place  on  January  17,  1896,  about  five  miles  south  of  the  city. 
It  was  nothing  more  than  a  skirmish,  neither  side  suffering,  and  that 
night  Gen.  Luque  left  part  of  his  forces  at  the  village  of  St.  Luis, 
through  which  Maceo  had  passed  two  hours  ahead  of  him.  He  took 
his  main  body  to  Pinar  del  Rio. 

During  the  night  he  learned  that  Maceo  had  taken  a  position  at 
Tirado,  commanding  the  road  to  Coloma,  between  Pinar  del  Rio  and 
the  coast.  It  was  over  this  road  that  the  wagon  train  from  the  coast 
was  to  bring  up  the  supplies  to  Pinar  del  Rio.  General  Luque 


INSURGENT   CAMPAIGN   IN   WESTERN   CUBA.       71 

hastened  at  daylight  to  drive  the  insurgents  back,  but  found  Maceo 
strongly  entrenched  within  three  miles  of  the  city.  This  was  the 
morning  of  the  1 8th. 

Luque  came  upon  Maceo's  vanguard  under  Colonel  Velasco,  but 
the  moment  the  attack  was  made  he  found  himself  under  fire  from 
the  tops  of  two  low  hills  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  where  the  insur 
gents  were  well  protected.  They  were  in  such  an  advantageous  posi 
tion  that  Luque  sustained  severe  losses  without  inflicting  much  injury 
upon  the  enemy.  So  hot  was  the  encounter  that  Luque  withdrew 
and  prepared  to  charge  upon  two  points  where  the  enemy  were  mak 
ing  a  stand.  With  the  San  Quintin  battalion  he  held  the  road,  send 
ing  Colonel  Hernandez  to  the  right,  while  another  division  advanced 
on  the  left.  The  attack  was  successful.  The  Spanish  made  a  magni 
ficent  effort  under  the  withering  fire,  but  both  divisions  swept  Maceo's 
forces  before  them,  not,  however,  until  thty  had  left  the  field  scattered 
with  their  own  dead  and  wounded. 

The  Spanish  General  Surprised. 

For  some  reason  the  cavalry  had  not  been  used.  The  artillery  was 
just  coming  up  when  the  action  had  reached  this  point.  The  Spanish 
found  that  the  enemy  had,  instead  of  being  routed,  simply  fallen  back 
and  taken  a  position  on  another  hill,  and  scattered  firing  went  on.  for 
a  considerable  time,  while  Luque  prepared  to  attack  again.  Then, 
against  two  thousand  of  Maceo's  men,  was  directed  all  of  Luque's 
command,  over  four  thousand  infantry,  two  hundred  cavalry  and 
eleven  pieces  of  artillery. 

At  least  half  of  Maceo's  army,  certainly  not  less  than  two  thousand 
cavalry,  had  been  moving  to  Luque's  rear  and  came  upon  him,  sur 
prising  him  just  as  this  second  attack  was  being  made. 

For  a  time  it  was  a  question  whether  Luque's  command  would  not 
be  wiped  out.  They  were  practically  surrounded  by  Maceo's  men, 
and  for  fully  an  hour  and  a  half  the  fighting  was  desperate.  It  is 
impossible  to  unravel  the  stories  of  both  sides  so  as  to  arrive  at  a 
clear  idea  of  the  encounter.  Hernandez's  right  wing  had  been 
weakened  by  the  withdrawal  of  part  of  the  San  Quintin  battalion, 


72       INSURGENT  CAMPAIGN   IN  WESTERN   CUBA. 

and  when  five  companies  of  the  insurgents  fell  upon  him  he  suffered 
so  quickly  that  Luque  sent  two  battalions  to  his  assistance.  Her 
nandez  then  succeeded  in  gaining  the  hill,  where  one  division  of  the 
insurgents  was  stationed,  but  not  until  a  cavalry  charge  had  been 
repelled  and  seven  pieces  of  the  artillery  had  been  turned  upon  it. 

When  the  cannonading  ceased  four  companies  of  infantry  charged 
up  the  hill  and  occupied  it  before  the  insurgents,  who  had  been 
driven  out  by  the  artillery,  could  regain  it.  Shortly  the  hill  on  the 
left  of  the  road  was  taken  in  the  same  way,  and  Luque,  although  at 
a  great  loss,  had  repelled  Maceo's  attack  from  the  rear. 

The  insurgent  forces  then  withdrew  to  a  piece  of  woods  and  made 
another  stand  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  field  where  the 
fight  had  taken  place.  General  Luque,  however,  withdrew  his 
shattered  forces  to  Pinar  del  Rio. 

The  battle  had  lasted  from  9.15  to  11.30.  Maceo  had  about  forty 
of  his  men  wounded  and  left  four  dead  on  the  field,  taking  away  ten 
others.  Twenty  or  more  of  his  horses  were  killed.  The  Spanish 
reported  that  he  had  1,000  killed  ;  the  next  day  reduced  the  number 
to  300,  and  finally  to  the  statement  that  "  the  enemy's  losses  must 
have  been  enormous  " — the  usual  phrase  when  the  true  number  is 
humiliating.  Luque's  loss  has  never  been  officially  reported.  It  is 
variously  estimated  between  fifty  and  one  hundred  men,  but  his 
defeat  was  severest  in  the  failure  to  save  the  supply  train.  Seventeen 
loaded  wagons  and  twenty  pack  mules  carrying  100,000  rations  and 
perhaps  10,000  rounds  of  ammunition  were  in  Maceo's  ha/>;'>  /'  the 
end  of  the  fight. 


CHAPTER  VL 
Downfall  of  General  Campos. 

WHEN  the  Spanish  government  sent  tens  of  thousands  of 
troops  to  Cuba,  it  evidently  imagined  the  revolution  would 
soon  be  smothered.  General  Campos  had  shown  his 
prowess  and  military  skill  on  many  occasions  and  was  considered  the 
ablest  commander  in  the  Spanish  army.  It  was  thought  that  he 
would  soon  be  able  to  overtake  the  insurrection  and  quench  its  fires. 
We  have  arrived  now  at  a  point  where  his  complete  failure  must  be 
recorded. 

It  was  made  plain  that  he  had  a  larger  contract  on  hand  than  he 
was  able  with  all  his  hosts  to  carry  out.  Repeated  dispatches  had 
been  sent  abroad  telling  of  his  military  movements  and  successes, 
but  after  he  had  been  nine  months  in  Cuba,  the  stubborn  fact  still 
remained  that  he  did  not  hold  the  Island,  and  the  fires  of  the  revolu 
tion  were  burning  higher  and  brighter  than  ever.  The  insurgents 
roamed  over  many  parts  of  the  Island  at  their  own  sweet  will.  Their 
leaders  had  not  been  captured  and  the  promised  era  of  peace  had 
not  come. 

Secret  expeditions  from  the  United  States  had  landed  on  the  Cuban 
shores  in  spite  of  all  the  vigilance  of  Spanish  ships  on  the  sea  and 
armed  bodies  of  troops  on  land.  Such  aid  was  likely  to  be  furnished 
to  an  unlimited  extent.  The  sympathy  of  high  officials  in  our 
government  with  the  cause  of  Cuba  was  pronounced  and  emphatic. 
Arms  and  ammunition  in  some  mysterious  way  were  constantly 
shipped,  and  the  spirit  of  revolution  was  fanned  by  the  national  senti 
ment  of  the  United  States.  General  Campos  could  not  do  impossi 
bilities.  The  stars  in  their  courses  were  fighting  against  him.  The 
government  at  Madrid  became  dissatisfied,  censorious,  and  was  ready 
to  recall  its  favorite  general  as  unequal  to  the  situation.  The  old 

73 


74  DOWNFALL   OF   GENERAL   CAMPOS. 

Spanish  Clement  in  Cuba,  sympathizing  with  the  mother  country, 
became  restless  and  turbulent.  The  war  was  costing  immense  sums 
of  money  and  nothing  apparently  was  being  gained.  Heavier  taxes 
would  have  to  be  imposed  upon  the  people  of  Cuba,  and  this,  together 
with  the  destruction  caused  by  the  movements  of  both  the  Spanish 
and  the  Cuban  armies,  frightened  the  people  in  the  large  towns  and 
caused  them  almost  to  rise  in  rebellion,  not  merely  against  the  insur 
gents,  but  against  the  home  government. 

About  the  middle  of  January,  1896,  there  was,  at  Havana,  a  strong 
feeling  of  distrust.  On  the  Exchange  the  anti-Spanish  sentiment  was 
shown  in  something  like  seditious  utterances.  Several  colonels  and 
officers  of  volunteers  who  were  present  made  speeches  against  Cap 
tain-General  Campos,  and  a  general  protest  was  expressed  against  his 
military  inactivity  and  over-humane  policy 

Proposition  to  Lynch  the  Captain- General. 

One  major  of  volunteers  proposed  that  Canjpos  be  either  forced  to 
resign  or  be  lynched,  and  the  speech  was  met  by  cheers  from  various 
Spanish  merchants.  The  majority  of  the  representatives  of  Spanish 
business  houses  present  signed  a  petition  to  close  the  Exchange,  and 
many  favored  closing  the  stores  as  a  protest  against  Campos'  perman 
ence  in  the  Island. 

A  delegation  from  the  volunteer  corps'  officers  was.  named  to  wait 
on  Campos  and  insist  that  Pando  be  called  and  given  full  military 
command  and  that  Campos  either  radically  change  his  political  policy 
or  else  resign  the  governorship.  The  Spanish  sentiment  against  him 
was  increasing  hourly,  and  trouble  was  feared.  Several  foreign  ves 
sels  in  the  port,  by  the  direction  of  their  consignees,  suspended  the 
discharge  of  their  cargoes,  awaiting  the  outcome  of  the  affair. 

Lieutenant-General  Marin  was  hurriedly  called  from  Matynzas,  and 
had  a  consultation  with  the  Captain-General.  Campos  depended 
upon  the  regular  forces  and  upon  the  fleet  to  support  him  in  the  event 
of  trouble,  but  there  were  few  troops  in  Havana,  most  of  the  columns 
being  out  after  Gomez  and  Maceo,  and,  unfortunately,  all  the  warships 
were  away  cruising  up  and  down  the  coast 


DOWNFALL   OF   GENERAL   CAMPOS.  75 

A  significant  editorial  appeared  in  the  "  Diario  de  Marino,"  the 
organ  of  the  Reformist  party,  saying  that  the  country  and  business 
circles  could  not  longer  stand  the  crisis,  and  openly  intimating  that  if 
Campos  could  neither  crush  the  revolution  nor  effect  immediate  peace 
the  time  had  come  for  a  new  trial,  as  no  time  must  be  lost  in  the  face 
of  the  growing  strength  of  the  rebel  movement. 

The  next  news  was  that  Director-General  Martinez  Campos  had 
decided  to  retire  from  the  command  of  the  Spanish  forces  in  Cuba 
and  from  the  direction  of  the  campaign  against  the  insurgents.  This 
decision  was  arrived  at  after  his  conference  with  representatives  of 
the  three  political  parties  in  Cuba,  when  he  found  that  two  out  of  the 
three  were  unalterably  opposed  to  him  and  his  methods.  General 
Martinez  Campos  did  not  tell  the  committee  immediately  of  his 
decision,  but  it  was  understood  that  he  was  positive  about  it,  and  that 
his  successor  would  probably  assume  command  of  the  Spanish  army 
as  military  governor  of  Cuba  in  a  short  time. 

The  General's  Decision. 

It  was  understood  that  at  the  conference  General  Campos  asked 
each  of  the  leaders  his  opinion.  The  leader  representing  the  Auton 
omist  party  expressed  complete  satisfaction  with  the  conduct  of  the 
campaign,  but  the  leaders  of  the  Reformists  and  Conservatives  ex 
pressed  contrary  opinions.  General  Campos  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
conference,  informed  the  committee  of  his  decision  to  consult  the 
government  at  Madrid. 

A  more  detailed  account  of  the  Spanish  General's  failure  was 
given  under  date  of  Jan.  i6th,  as  follows : 

"  More  grave,  every  hour,  is  the  state  of  affairs  here,  if  the  feeling 
of  the  people  is  a  true  barometer.  Events  now  occurring  are  caus 
ing  a  loud  protest  against  Campos'  method  in  carrying  on  the  war, 
and  since  Gomez  has  escaped  from  what  Spain  believed  was  a  trap  in 
which  his  downfall  was  inevitable  he  is  spreading  uninterrupted  ruin 
wherever  he  goes.  Spaniards  are  both  angry  and  discouraged.  And 
the  Cubans  in  Havana  are  more  cautious  in  their  conversation  not  to 
say  too  much  to  reveal  their  interest  in  the  insurgent  victories. 


76  DOWNFALL   OF   GENERAL   CAMPOS. 

"  A  demonstration  was  made  in  Havana  yesterday,  whuJi  the 
censorship  has  not  yet  permitted  to  be  published  in  the  local  papers 
or  sent  out  on  the  cable.  A  newspaper,  the  '  Diario  de  la  Marina,' 
the  most  conservative  organ,  notwithstanding  the  Spanish  control  of 
all  publications,  published  a  strong  editorial  criticising  as  bitterly  as 
the  most  diplomatic  phrases  could  express,  the  fruitless  results  of  the 
methods  being  used  to  '  suppress  the  rebels/  and,  pointing  to  the 
gravity  of  the  situation,  declared,  reservedly,  that  public  opinion  had 
reached  such  a  stage  that  it  could  no  longer  refrain  from  giving  ex 
pression  to  the  general  conviction  that  heroic  measures  should  be 
adopted  at  once. 

Bold  Move  by  Spanish  Merchants. 

"  This  was  followed  later  in  the  day  by  a  meeting  of  the  Produce 
Exchanges,  in  which,  though  its  session  was  supposed  to  be  ex 
ecutive,  it  is  said  a  number  of  the  merchants  of  the  city  participated. 
Some  lively  scenes  occurred,  and  the  body  reached  the  point  of  pass 
ing  resolutions  condemning  the  methods  of  Campos,  when  they  were 
side-tracked  by  a  proposition  that  the  merchants,  in  a  body,  should 
surrender  their  houses  to  the  government  and  close  their  places  of 
business  as  a  more  effective  expression  of  their  dissatisfaction.  Busi 
ness  is  being  ruined.  Prices  are  at  war  figures. 

"  Money  is  scarce,  and  to  make  clearer  what  may  have  forced 
others  to  join  in  the  protests  it  may  be  mentioned  that  the  bonds  of 
the  railroads  are  practically  abandoned  by  the  companies  owning 
them,  sold  recently  above  par,  and  to-day,  when  offered  by  a  man 
forced  to  sell,  found  no  bidder  at  50.  The  meeting  of  the  merchants, 
however,  adjourned  without  action  after  it  was  decided  to  make  no 
further  manifestation  of  displeasure  for  the  moment  than  to  compli 
ment  the  newspaper  mentioned  for  the  stand  it  had  taken. 

"  Only  two  weeks  ago,  when  Campos  returned  from  his  unsuccess 
ful  pursuit  of  the  rebels,  the  same  merchants  joined  a  great  de 
monstration  on  the  streets  of  the  city,  expressing  the  confidence  of 
all  parties  in  the  wise  methods  of  the  Government  and  the  ultimate 
successful  crushing  out  of  the  revolution.  That  indicates  the  change 


DOWNFALL   OF   GENERAL   CAMPOS.  77 

of  public  sentiment  and  the  increasing  gravity  of  affairs.  The 
majority,  however  bitter  the  criticism,  seem  to  hesitate  in  demanding 
the  retirement  of  Campos  from  the  leadership,  but  express  their 
desire  that  he  shall  change  his  methods  and  aggressively  force  an 
issue  with  the  insurgents. 

"  A  significant  thing  about  it  is  that  they  do  not  offer  one  sugges 
tion.  If  Campos,  exercising  the  authority  he  possesses,  command 
ing  a  besieged  city,  were  to  call  these  men  before  him  and  say, 
'  What  shall  I  do  ? '  they  would  retire  as  much  at  sea  as  they  de 
clare  him  to  be.  Chasing  cavalry  with  poor  infantry,  when  the 
troops  are  as  well  mounted  as  Gomez's  forces,  and  as  skillful  in 
separating  into  several  divisions,  which  flee  in  as  many  directions,  to 
congregate  later  in  a  country  they  know  so  perfectly,  is  what  Campos 
has  been  doing  for  a  long  time.  And  he  has  not  met  with  marked 
success. 

Indignant  Protests. 

"  The  protests  are  arising  from  the  representative  merchants  of 
Havana.  There  are  some  of  the  richest  and  most  prominent  men  of 
the  Island  in  their  number.  All.  three  parties,  rigid  as  are  their  lines 
in  other  matters,  are  united  on  this  point.  They  are  old  Conserva 
tives  who  have  long  stood  for  almost  anything,  provided  Spain  was 
uppermost ;  the  Reformists  who  demand  more  and  want  certain 
liberties  for  Cuba,  and  the  Autonomists,  who  claim  that  they  would 
retain  Spanish  sovereignty,  but  want  Cuba  to  largely  govern  herself 
with  an  autonomy  in  reality,  which  Spain  has  in  the  past  promised, 
but  never  fulfilled.  These  protests  may  move  Campos  to  change  his 
n:ethods,  even  if  he  can  devise  any  change  that  is  promising,  but  it  is 
probable  that  if  any  concerted  effort  is  made  to  close  the  business 
places  of  Havana,  he  will  deal  summarily  with  the  men  who  engage 
in  it. 

"  He  has  manifested  a  .disposition  to  do  this  already.  When  the 
railroad  companies  decided  to  suspend  operations,  he  called  the 
general  manager  before  him.  In  a  stormy  interview  which  occurred, 
Campos,  it  is  declared,  said,  '  If  you  attempt  to  do  so,  I'll  seize  all 
your  property  and  use  it  for  our  own  facilities.'  The  reply  is  said  to 


78  DOWNFALL   OF   GENERAL   CAMPOS. 

have  been :  '  We  wish  you  would  if  it  will  end  the  war.  But  the 
Government  has  not  protected  us  ;  many  of  our  engines  are  wrecked, 
our  cars  burned  or  destroyed  in  derailments,  viaducts  and  tracks 
torn  up,  we  can  go  no  further  alone  without  being  ruined.'  " 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  there  was  widespread  dissatisfaction  with 
General  Campos.  To  add  to  the  general  discontent,  news  came  of 
another  success  gained  by  the  insurgents.  The  details  of  the  taking 
of  the  seaport  Cabanas,  on  the  north  coast,  west  of  Havana,  were 
now  coming  in  and  being  discussed  in  the  city  with  more  than  usual 
interest.  Of  course  it  indicated  that  nearly  all  that  was  heard  at  first 
was  more  or  less  untrue.  The  burning  of  so  many  buildings  in  the 
large  town  of  Bejucal,  almost  in  sight  of  Havana,  was  given  less 
importance  now  than  the  Cabanas  incident,  because  Cabanas  is  a  sea 
port,  and  the  contention  from  the  beginning  was  that  the  rebels  had 
never  taken  a  seaport,  or  at  least  one  of  any  importance. 

Wild  Charge  of  Cavalry. 

Gomez,  it  was  now  known,  descended  upon  the  town  and 
demanded  its  surrender.  The  garrison  refused.  The  gunboat 
"  Alerta  "  was  in  the  bay,  and  there  were  marines  on  shore  for  their 
assistance.  Gomez's  lieutenant,  a  dashing  young  fellow  of  about 
thirty,  was  fired  on  when  he  approached  with  the  message,  but  he 
retired  jeering  at  the  soldiers  who  fired  so  wildly  that  not  one  shot 
took  effect.  Gomez's  cavalry,  it  is  said  about  2,000  strong, 
descended  with  a  rush  on  the  city,  and,  invading  the  streets,  drove 
the  Spanish  troops  into  the  church. 

The  firing  was  resumed  from  the  roof  and  tower  of  the  church,  but 
Gomez's  men  succeeded  in  setting  fire  to  the  structure,  and  the  regu 
lars  were  forced  to  surrender.  Meanwhile  the  gunboat  also  retired. 
It  stopped  farther  out  in  the  bay,  and,  according  to  the  Spanish 
reports,  "  placed  several  perfectly  directed  shells  into  the  city,  doing 
terrible  execution."  Gomez  retired  after  he  had  sacked  the  town 
and  burned  a  part  of  it,  having  taken  11,000  rounds  of  ammunition 
and  a  considerable  quantity  of  arms.  Despite  the  demonstration 
made  over  the  marksmanship  displayed  by  their  gunboat,  the  gov- 


DOWNFALL  OF  GENERAL  CAMPOS.  79 

ernment  reported  that  only  two  rebels  had  been  killed.     No  mention 
was  made  in  the  official  reports  about  the  loss  on  the  Spanish  side. 

These  details  were  not  reassuring  in  Havana,  because  it  was  said 
by  one  of  the  leading  Spanish  residents  of  the  city :  "  Gomez  began 
by  simply  burning  some  cane  fields  in  the  far  eastern  end  of  the 
Island.  Then  he  began  to  destroy  great  estates.  Then  he  moved 
all  over  the  Island.  He  began  to  burn  little  villages,  and  now  he  is 
not  only  taking  such  places  as  Bejucal,  with  8,000  inhabitants,  but 
has  captured  a  seaport,  occupied  it  as  long  as  he  wished  and  retired 
with  rich  booty.  It  is  bad  and  growing  worse.  Great  things  must  be 

done  at  once." 

Another  Important  Capture. 

In  addition  to  this,  word  came  into  the  city  that  another  important 
town  of  3,000  population  had  been  taken  and  burned.  Although 
Gomez  was  supposed  to  be  still  east  of  Havana,  since  his  escape 
through  "  the  wall  "  of  men  across  the  narrow  part  of  the  island,  the 
town  was  San  Jose  de  la  Yeargas,  west  of  Havana,  in  the  province  of 
Pinar  del  Rio;  which  Gomez  invaded  when  his  capture  was  planned. 
The  report  was  even  admitted  as  a  "  rumor  "  by  some  of  the  Spanish, 
whose  admission  that  a  rumor  is  circulating  does  not  generally  occur 
until  after  the  exaggerated  reports  which  the  Cubans  have  been 
spreading  have  pretty  generally  been  accepted  as  carrying  more  or 
less  fact.  It  was  said  that  the  town  was  partially  destroyed  after  the 
garrison  had  been  driven  out,  and  that  the  loss  of  life  on  both  sides 
was  small. 

The  truth  about  Gomez's  successful  operations  within  sight,  almost, 
of  Havana  had  not  been  permitted  to  go  out  by  cable.  He  had  been 
so  successful  that  amazement  hardly  expressed  the  feeling  of  the 
Spanish.  About  ten  days  before  this  the  statement  reached  the 
world  that  Campos  had  Gomez  trapped ;  that  the  rebels  had  left  the 
mountains  at  last  and  entered  the  open  country  in  the  narrow  western 
province  of  Havana,  on  their  way  into  the  extreme  western  province 
of  Pinar  del  Rio  ;  that  Campos  had  thrown  "  a  wall  of  men  "  suddenly 
across  the  Island  west  of  Havana  from  near  Guanajay  to  the  south 
coast  and  had  hemmed  in  Gomez  and  his  "  band  of  raiders/'  cutting 


80  DOWNFALL  OF  GENERAL  CAMPOS. 

them  off  from  their  eastern  strongholds,  so  that  it  was  only  a  question 
of  days  before  the  whole  outfit  would  be  shot  down  or  the  residue 
marched  into  Havana  with  a  bayonet  at  every  man's  back. 

It  was  not  made  clear  why  Campos  was  in  Havana  when  Gomez 
was  crossing  the  open  country  back  of  the  city.  The  Spanish  said  he 
stayed  in  the  city  because  it  was  necessary  to  the  laying  of  the  trap. 
The  Cubans  pointed  to  the  reason  in  the  short  campaign  which 
Campos  made  some  days  before.  His  generals  had  been  receiving 
his  daily  instructions  to  "  go  out  and  find  the  rebels ;  hunt  them  up 
and  make  them  fight."  They  had  been  coming  home  empty-handed 
so  long  that  he  became  dissatisfied  and  went  out,  saying  :  "  I'll  show 
you  how." 

He  went  eastward  with  a  considerable  column  and  met  Gomez 
himself  at  Mai  Tiempo.  There  was  not  a  pitched  battle,  but  some 
severe  fighting  occurred  with  the  rear-guard,  Gomez  avoiding  a  decisive 
issue  by  his  peculiar  tactics  in  battle.  At  any  rate  Campos  moved  his 
headquarters  next  night  toward  Havana — "  fell  back,"  the  Cubans 
called  it.  Campos  called  it  an  "  advantageous  change  in  the  base  of 
operations." 

Pell  Back  to  Havana. 

The  rebels  continued  their  skirmishing  and  there  were  encounters 
where  a  couple  of  thousand  men  on  each  side  were  engaged,  and  the 
next  night  Campos  fell  back  again.  The  next  day  came  no  change. 
It  began  to  look  as  if  Campos  experienced  less  trouble  than  his 
generals  in  finding  rebels,  and  for  the  third  time  Campos  moved  his 
quarters  back  nearer  Havana.  The  next  day  he  arrived  in  the  city. 

The  Cubans  said  that  Campos  on  his  arrival  was  unstrung,  that  he 
declared  the  situation  graver  than  he  had  before  believed  it  to  be. 
Some  who  were  in  the  streets  watching  the  return  of  the  troops  con 
firmed  this,  or  refused  to  discuss  it.  And  the  Spanish  said  that  Campos 
returned  because  he  believed  that  Havana  was  to  be  attacked  by  the 
insurgents,  and  the  defense  of  only  20,000  troops  made  it  necessary 
for  him  to  throw  his  column  into  the  city  at  once.  The  Cubans  called 
this  a  retreat. 

It  was  when  Campos  was  in  the  city,  whatever  the  real  cause  may 


DOWNFALL   OF   GENERAL   CAMPOS.  81 

have  been,  that  Gomez  came  within  a  dozen  miles  of  Havana,  burning 
villages  and  plantatkms  right  and  left,  cutting  the  railroad  lines  as  he 
had  been  doing  further  out,  and  driving  out  after  disarming  the  gar 
risons  he  found  defending  them.  When  Gomez  got  into  the  west  he 
found  the  whole  country  ready  to  receive  him.  He  was  soon  joined 
by  mor*  of  his  troops,  and  while  all  accounts  vary  it  is  fairly  probable 
that  h^  had  4,000  cavalry  with  him  when  Campos  threw  the  "  wall  of 
men  "  across  the  island,  and  the  censor  permitted  it  to  be  announced 
to  the  world  that  the  trap  had  been  sprung. 

The  Garrison  Surrenders. 

The  trap  was  still  set,  but  Gomez  passed  "the  wall,"  captured 
Bejucal,  a  town  of  8,000  people  only  twelve  miles  south  of  the  city, 
and  was  again  east  of  Havana.  Various  reports  were  coming  in 
about  the  taking  of  the  city,  most  of  them  agreeing  only  that  Campos 
left  a  strong  garrison  there,  that  it  surrendered  with  slight  resistance, 
and  that  the  railroad  station  in  the  centre  of  the  city,  with  thirty-five 
buildings,  was  burned.  There  was  not  the  slightest  doubt  in  Havana 
after  the  capture  of  Bejucal  and  the  new  move  of  Gomez  occurred, 
that  information  of  the  movements  of  Gomez's  generals  indicated  the 
gathering  of  ten  or  twelve  thousand  insurgent  cavalry  within  the 
provinces  of  Matanzas  and  Havana. 

The  Spanish,  in  the  information  which  they  permitted  Havana  to 
receive,  but  cut  off  from  the  rest  of  the  world,  made  no  concealment 
of  their  alarm,  although  they  would  not  of  course  permit  any  ex 
pression  of  just  what  they  feared  would  occur.  Yet  they  declared 
that  they  wished  for  nothing  so  much  as  a  chance  for  a  decisive  battle. 

Meanwhile,  divisions  of  the  Cuban  army  were  apparently  hurrying 
eastward  to  join  Gomez.  That  they  were  doing  so  for  some  other 
purpose  than  to  rescue  Gomez  was  apparent  from  the  nature  of  their 
progress.  Gomez  had  no  difficulty  in  carrying  to  a  successful  issue 
his  western  campaign  and  went  back  through  "  the  wall "  out  of  the 
trap  without  even  one  battle.  Now,  the  troops  he  left  behind  had  been 
ordered  to  join  Maceo,  and  the  first  of  them  reached  Matanzas  under 
General  Cespedes.  They  were  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
6 


82  DOWNFALL   OF   GENERAL   CAMPOS. 

from  Havana.  Generals  Jose  Maceo  and  Rabi,  with  other  divisions 
between  Puerto  Principe  and  Santa  Clara,  moved  all  in  the  same 
direction  toward  Gomez,  but  their  progress  was  not  made  as  if  they 
had  in  mind  at  any  time  a  fear  for  Gomez's  safety  while  west  of 
Havana.  The  Cubans  said  25,000  mounted  men  were  in  these 
divisions.  They  may  have  had  10,000,  but  the  insurgents  were 
almost  without  exception  finely  mounted. 

Furthermore,  they  controlled  all  the  railroads  in  Cuba.  They  cut 
up  the  lines,  burned  bridges,  destroyed  rolling-stock,  and  ruined  the 
business  of  the  roads.  Within  a  few  hours  they  notified  the  engi 
neers  and  conductors  of  the  trains  still  moving  on  a  few  sections  that 
they  would  be  shot  if  they  carried  Spanish  troops  again. 

No  Protection  from  the  Government. 

The  Spanish  troops  might  man  their  own  trains ;  but  the  first 
event  to  follow  the  new  order  was  the  announcement  that  the  rail 
road  companies  would  no  longer  attempt  to  repair  their  tracks  or 
viaducts.  They  lost  all  their  traffic  and  spent  thousands  upon 
thousands  of  dollars  in  repairing  breaks,  but  the  Spanish  Govern 
ment  neither  protected  them  nor  gave  them  even  a  Spanish  promise 
to  pay  the  loss.  Of  course,  considering  the  claim  that  the  Cubans 
were  rioters  and  raiders,  and  that  actual  war  did  not  exist,  the  com 
pany  expected  the  protection  of  the  State  from  rioters. 

From  this  time  on  the  railroads  were  solely  in  the  hands  of  the 
Spanish  Government,  theoretically ;  of  the  insurgents,  practically. 
This  action  of  the  companies,  which  are  largely  owned  by  foreign 
investors,  is  received  in  Havana  as  significant  of  more  than  the  mere 
deserting  of  a  losing  enterprise. 

With  affairs  at  this  point  the  question  at  once  arose  whether  the 
event  for  which  all  the  world  was  waiting,  the  capture  of  Havana, 
was  possible  for  Gomez,  and  whether  Gomez  would  make  the  attempt 

Gomez,  in  all  probability,  could  have  taken  Havana.  It  is  just  as 
certain  that  Gomez  knew  the  chances  of  his  success  in  an  attack. 
The  question  to  be  settled  was  whether  he  wished  to  do  so. 

He  had  done  about  everything  he  had  said  he  would  do  since  the 


DOWNFALL  OF  GENERAL  CAMPOS.  83 

first  wave  of  the  revolution  gathered  itself  at  the  eastern  end  of  the 
Island  in  February,  1895,  for  the  sweep  it  had  just  finished  in  the 
western  extremity.  Yet  he  did  not  hold  one  large  city.  One  hun 
dred  and  thirteen  thousand  Spanish  soldiers  from  abroad  and  80,000 
volunteers  from  the  Island  (according  to  the  Spanish  official  figures) 
were  holding  the  cities  and  towns  of  greater  importance  in  every 
province.  Gomez  had  not  made  serious  efforts  to  capture  any  of  the 
strongly  garrisoned  places.  He  filled  the  very  streets  and  houses  of  the 
cities,  however,  with  smoke  from  the  blazing  plantations  outside,  and 
passed  and  repassed  with  his  troops  in  sight  of  the  Spanish  colors, 
but  the  Spanish  defended  the  cities  successfully,  they  said. 

A  Most  Successful  Advance. 

Gomez  has  never  attacked  them.  He  may  have  exhibited  great 
wisdom  in  not  doing  so.  The  Spanish  say  he  did.  Gomez  always 
disappointed  Campos.  His  progress  from  Cape  Maysi  to  Cape  San 
Antonio  had  been  so  successful,  so  skillful  in  tactics,  so  resourceful  in 
avenues  of  retreat  when  they  were  temporarily  necessary,  and  his 
objects  were  so  uniformly  attained,  that  it- will  be  one  of  the  greatest 
chapters  in  a  new  nation's  history  of  its  birth.  The  ease  and  apparent 
lack  of  seriousness  with  which  he  walked  into  Campos'  trap  and  then 
walked  out  again  is  but  one  of  a  score  of  instances  showing  how  his 
generalship  proved  to  be  more  suitable  to  the  exigencies  of  Cuban 
warfare  than  that  of  his  enemies. 

Therefore  no  reason  exists  for  accepting  the  supposition  of  the 
Spanish  that  Havana  was  secure  from  attack  so  long  as  all  the  other 
cities  on  the  Island  were  safe  in  Spanish  possession.  And  a  part  of 
the  alarm  which  was  felt  in  Havana  following  the  unexpected  massing 
of  Gomez's  armies  was  due  to  the  suspicion  that  he  would  possibly 
again  execute  exactly  the  opposite  move  from  what  the  Spanish 
generals  anticipated. 

The  foregoing  facts  and  circumstances  will  give  the  reader  a  clear 
idea  of  the  reasons  which  led  to  the  recall  of  General  Campos.  He 
was  unable  to  suppress  the  revolution,  which  had  taken  a  firm  hold 
on  a  large  part  of  the  Island.  The  more  insurgents  he  condemned 


&4  DOWNFALL  OF  GENERAL  CAMPOS. 

and  executed,  the  more  came  forward  to  fill  their  places  and  risk 
everything  in  the  cause  of  freedom. '  In  many  instances  when  he  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  into  close  quarters  with  his  foes,  they  eluded  him 
and  slipped  from  his  grasp. 

The  home  government  grew  impatient  and  began  openly  to  proclaim 
his  incompetency.  Realizing  this  and  feeling  that  he  was  unequal  to  the 
task  assigned  him,  General  Campos  signified  his  willingness  to  retire 
from  the  field.  The  government  at  Madrid  believed  that  his  measures 
were  not  sufficiently  severe  and  thorough.  It  was  much  easier  three 
thousand  miles  away  to  imagine  how  a  war  should  be  carried  on  than 
it  was  to  win  the  battles  on  the  ground.  With  a  public  demonstra 
tion  and  a  show  of  regret  General  Campos  left  the  Island. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
General  Weyler  in  Cuba. 

was  a  good  deal  of  consternation  in  Cuban  circles  when 
it  was  announced  that  General  Weyler  was  to  be  made  Captain- 
General,  and  would  soon  appear  to  take  charge  of  the  Spanish 
army,  and  would  suppress  the  revolution  with  a  strong  hand.  He 
had  been  in  Cuba  before.  He  was  there  during  the  ten  years'  war, 
beginning  in  1868.  He  gained  the  reputation  of  being  an  active, 
spirited  commander.  He  also  gained  the  reputation  of  being  a 
butcher.  His  bloody  acts  followed  him.  It  was  believed  that  his 
reputation  for  wholesale  butchery  was  the  sole  reason  for  his  being 
sent  to  Cuba  at  this  time. 

But  where  were  all  the  loud  boasts  of  General  Campos  and 
Spanish  officials  that  the  fires  of  the  revolution  would  soon  be 
quenched  and  it  would  require  but  a  few  months  to  restore  the  Island 
to  peace  and  tranquillity  ?  It  was  plain  that  the  insurrection  was 
working  mightily  in  the  blood  of  the  people.  The  sense  of  v/rong, 
the  memory  of  cruel  deeds,  a  long  and  wearying  oppression,  the  im 
poverished  condition  of  the  Island  had  stirred  the  spirit  of  Cuban 
patriots.  So,  at  the  end  of  a  year's  conflict,  Cuba  was  still  in  arms, 
fighting  for  independence. 

The  steamer  "Alfonso  XIII."  arrived  at  Havana,  Feb.  10,  1896, 
having  on  board  General  Valeriano  Weyler,  the  new  Captain-General 
of  Cuba ;  and  Generals  Enrique,  Barges,  Federico,  Ochando,  Miguel 
Melguiso,  Marquis  Ahumada,  Luis  Castellvi,  Sanchez  Bernal  and 
Juan  Arolas,  the  latter  being  the  well-known  hero  of  Jolo,  Philippine 
Islands. 

The  entire  city  was  brilliantly  decorated  in  honor  of  the  occision, 
and  the  bay  was  a  splendid  sight,  ail  the  warships  and  merchant  craft 
present  being  decorated  with  bunting.  The  wharfs  were  crowded 


GENERAL  WEYLER   IN   CUBA.  87 

with  people  at  an  early  hour,  and  all  the  steamers  and  tugs  were 
loaded  with  sight-seers.  The  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the  Bourse,  all 
the  big  commercial  houses  and  Government  Departments,  the  Canar- 
ian  Association,  General  Weyler's  countrymen  and  others,  crowded 
upon  the  chartered  steamers  or  about  the  landing-place. 

The  troops  and  volunteers  were  turned  out  to  a  man,  together  with 
the  fire  department  and  police,  and  for  a  long  time  .no  such  brilliant 
display  had  been  witnessed  in  Havana.  Among  the  high  military 
officers  present  were  Generals  Suarez  Valdez,  Pando,  Marin  and 
Nevarro,  Admiral  Yanas  and  staff,  Colonel  Castanedo,  Major  Moriano 
and  many  others. 

Enthusiastic  Welcome. 

General  Weyler  was  welcomed  by  the  City  Council  on  board  the 
"  Alfonso  XIII."  He  was  presented  with  an  address  of  welcome 
and  assurance  of  loyalty.  At  1 1  o'clock  the  Captain-General  came 
ashore,  and  was  received  by  General  Marin  and  staff.  The  streets 
were  packed  with  people,  who  displayed  the  greatest  enthusiasm.  In 
fact,  rarely  has  a  distinguished  person  been  received  so  warmly  as 
was  General  Weyler  when  he  landed.  There  is  no  doubt  that  con 
siderable  real  enthusiasm  was  manifested,  in  addition  to  the  greet 
ings  which  would  naturally  be  bestowed  upon  the  representative  of 
Spain. 

The  balconies  in  all  the  streets  about  the  water-front  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Palace  were  full  of  ladies  in  holiday  attire,  and  they 
showered  flowers  upon  the  new  commander  as  he  passed.  Besides, 
numerous  floral  offerings  of  the  most  beautiful  description,  prin 
cipally  in  the  shape  of  crowns,  were  presented  to  the  General,  who 
expressed  his  thanks  in  each  case  in  a  few  brief  words.  He  seemed 
to  be  much  pleased  with  his  reception,  and  upon  arriving  at  the 
Palace  formally  took  over  the  duties  of  the  captain-generalship,  tak 
ing  the  oath  of  fealty  over  a  crucifix  and  upon  a  Bible.  General 
Marin  administered  the  oath  of  office,  and  soon  afterward  he  received 
the  local  military  and  civil  authorities,  the  different  corporations  and 
the  bishops  and  priests. 

The   German  warships   which   were   in   the   harbor   saluted   tf 


88  GENERAL  WEYLER   IN    CUBA. 

arrival  of  General  Weyler,  as  did  all  the  Spanish  warships  in  port 
and  the  forts  ashore.  The  Loyalists,  of  course,  were  out  in  the 
strongest  force  possible ;  but  it  may  be  said  that  the  entire  popula 
tion  of  Havana  turned  out,  and  hardly  a  representative  of  the  ship 
ping  or  business  interests  of  the  city  failed  to  make  the  day  a 
holiday.  After  the  reception  of  the  local  military  and  civil  authori 
ties,  corporations  and  clergy  was  completed,  General  Weyler  ap 
peared  upon  the  balcony  of  the  Palace  and  reviewed  the  troops.  His 
appearance  before  the  public  was  the  signal  for  a  long  outburst  of 
the  most  enthusiastic  cheering,  the  firing  of  cannon  and  the  sound  of 
martial  music,  all  the  bands  in  the  city  being  stationed  at  different 
points.  In  addition  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  proper  thousands 
of  people  flocked  into  the  city  from  all  directions  before  daybreak. 

Restrictions  upon  the  Press. 

Accompanying  General  Weyler  were  Captains  Gelaber  and  Lin 
ares,  who  are  known  as  "  military  editors."  They  were  to  have 
charge  of  the  press  censorship,  and  it  was  rumored  that  there  would 
be  considerably  more  difficulty  experienced  in  this  connection  by  the 
correspondents  in  the  future.  The  press  regulations  had  been  con 
siderably  relaxed,  and  not  much  difficulty  had  been  experienced  in 
getting  average  matter  upon  the  cable.  But,  it  was  thought  the  new 
Captain-General  would  be  very  severe  with  correspondents  who  sent 
false  accounts  of  Cuban  successes  or  in  any  way  brought  about  the  pub 
lication  of  false  news.  By  this  it  was  not  meant  that  General  Weyler 
intended  to  interfere  with  the  proper  liberty  which  the  press  can  be 
allowed  in  war-time.  It  really  meant  only  that  he  would  do  every 
thing  possible  to  prevent  the  sending  out  of  news  undoubtedly  false. 

A  disinterested  observer  of  the  situation  wrote  as  follows  under 
dite  of  Feb.  10,  1896: 

"  So  far  as  the  general  situation  is  concerned,  there  is  not  much 
change.  Indeed,  no  change  of  importance  is  expected  for  some 
days.  General  Weyler  will  first  devote  himself  to  a  complete  review 
of  the  operations  already  undertaken,  and  he  will  then  figure  out  the 
situation  as  it  actually  exists.  For  this  purpose,  almost  immediately 


GENERAL   WEYLER   IN  CUBA.  89 

after  taking  the  oath  of  fealty,  he  caused  orders  to  be  sent  to  all  the 
commanders  in  the  field  to  draw  up  promptly  and  forward  to  head 
quarters  here  complete  returns  of  the  condition  of  their  commands, 
together  with  the  state  of  railroads,  telegraphs  and  public  thorough 
fares  and  the  probable  location  and  strength  of  the  enemy  in  their 
neighborhoods. 

Weyler  Seeks  to  Learn  the  Situation. 

"  This  action  upon  the  part  of  General  Weyler  is  supplementary  to 
the  regular  report  and  returns  which  were  handed  over  to  him  by 
General  Mann  after  the  new  Captain-General  had  been  sworn  in. 
While  it  is  no  reflection  upon  General  Marin  or  the  other  Spanish 
commanders  here  or  in  other  parts  of  Cuba,  the  Captain-General 
took  this  step  in  order  thoroughly  to  go  over  the  ground  himself, 
and  possibly  in  view  of  the  sensational  reports  which  have  been  cir 
culated  by  agents  of  the  insurgents  and  others  to  the  effect  that  large 
quantities  of  stores,  arms  and  ammunition  are  missing  from  the  dif 
ferent  depots  and  have  found  their  way  into  the  hands  of  the  insur 
gents.  Between  this  and  the  tales  of  wholesale  dishonesty  circulated 
here  and  elsewhere  there  is  quite  a  difference,  and  nobody  here 
believes  that  there  has  been  any  treachery  of  importance. 

"  General  Marin,  who  has  been  appointed  Captain- General  of  Porto 
Rico,  is  expected  to  leave  for  his  new  post  to-morrow.  The  exact 
plan  of  campaign  of  General  Weyler  is  not  known,  but  it  is  believed 
that  it  will  be  a  very  different  one  from  that  of  Campos.  He  is  likely 
to  call  in  all  of  the  small  detachments  of  troops,  which  have  from 
the  first  had  such  a  weakening  effect  upon  the  Spanish  operations, 
and  will  try  to  drive  the  insurgents  into  a  position  from  which  they 
cannot  escape  without  a  pitched  battle.  General  Weyler  will  also  do 
everything  possible  to  muster  as  strong  a  force  of  cavalry  as  he  can. 
Considerable  reinforcements  of  this  branch  of  the  service  have  already 
arrived  here,  and  more  are  expected  during  the  week. 

e<  Some  reports  credit  the  insurgents  with  desiring  to  concentrate 
all  their  scattered  detachments  and  columns  into  one  body,  and  so 
bring  the  insurrection  to  a  direct  issue.  But  Spaniards  here  who  are 


00  GENERAL  VVEYLER  IN    CUBA. 

well  posted  on  the  situation  say  that  there  is  no  truth  in  the  report 
that  the  insurgents  will  make  any  effort  to  risk  a  pitched  battle." 

Captain-General  Weyler  clearly  defined  the  policy  he  intended  to 
pursue  in  the  conduct  of  the  campaign  for  the  suppression  of  the 
insurrection.  Before  he  had  been  at  Havana  many  hours  he  issued 
the  following  proclamation : 

"To  the  People  of  Cuba:  Honored  by  Her  Majesty,  the  Queen, 
and  her  Government,  with  the  command  of  this  Island,  under  the 
difficult  circumstances  now  prevailing,  I  take  charge  of  it  with  the 
determination  that  it  shall  never  be  given  up  by  me,  and  that  I  shall 
keep  it  in  the  possession  of  Spain,  willing  as  she  is  to  carry  out 
whatever  sacrifice  shall  be  required  to  succeed,  as  she  has  been  in 
the  past. 

"  I  rely  upon  the  gallantry  and  discipline  of  the  army  and  navy, 
upon  the  patriotism,  never  to  be  subdued,  of  the  volunteer  corps, 
and  more  especially  upon  the  support  that  I  should  be  given  by  the 
loyal  inhabitants,  born  here  or  in  Spain. 

"  It  is  not  necessary  to  say  that  I  shall  be  generous  with  the  sub 
dued  and  to  all  of  those  doing  any  service  to  the  Spanish  cause.  But 

1  will  not  lack  in  the  decision  and  energy  of  my  character  to  punish 
with  all  the  rigor  that  the  law  enacts  those  who  in  any  way  shall  help 
the  enemy,  or  shall  calumniate  the  prestige  of  our  name. 

"  Putting  aside  at  present  any  idea  of  politics,  my  mission  is  the 
honorable  one  of  finishing  the  war,  and  I  only  see  in  you  the  loyal 
Spaniards  who  are  to  assist  me  to  defeat  the  insurgents.  But  her 
Majesty's  Government  is  aware  of  what  you  are  and  of  what  you  are 
worthy,  and  the  status  of  peace  that  these  provinces  may  obtain.  It 
will  grant  you,  when  it  is  deemed  suitable  to  do  so,  the  reforms  the 
Government  may  think  most  proper,  with  the  love  of  a  mother  to  her 
children. 

"  Inhabitants  of  Cuba,  lend  me  your  co-operation  and  in  that  way 
you  will  defend  your  interests,  which  are  those  of  the  country. 
"  Long  live  Spanish  Cuba ! 

i(  Your  General  and  Governor, 

"  VALERIANO  WEYLER, 

•'  Marquis  of  Teneriffe," 


GENERAL    WEYLER   IN   CUBA.  91 

To  the  Volunteers  and  Firemen. 

General  Weyler  also  offered  the  following  address : 

"  Volunteers  and  Firemen :  Being  again  at  your  head,  I  see  in  you 
the  successors  of  the  volunteers  and  firemen  who  fought  with  me  in 
the  previous  war,  and,  with  their  bravery,  energy  and  patriotism, 
brought  about  peace,  defended  the  towns  and  cities  and  contributed 
most  powerfully  to  save  Cuba  for  Spain.  Remember  these  virtues 
brighten  your  spirits,  and,  relying  on  my  whole  attention,  my  decisive 
support  and  my  utmost  confidence,  lend  me  the  same  help  and  co 
operation,  and  with  the  same  ambition,  save  the  prestige  of  your  name 
and  the  honor  of  our  flag,  which,  forever  victorious,  should  fly  over 
this  Island. 

"  Soldiers  of  the  army,  I  greet  you  in  the  name  of  Her  Majesty, 
the  Queen,  and  of  the  Government.  Having  the  honor  of  being  at 
your  head,  I  trust  that  at  my  command  you  will  continue  to  show 
the  bravery  in  face  of  hardships  proper  for  the  Spanish  soldier,  and 
that  you  will  confer  new  wreaths  to  add  to  those  already  attained 
under  the  command  of  my  predecessors,  Generals  Martinez  Campos 
and  Sabas  Marin. 

"  On  my  part,  answering  to  the  great  sacrifice  made  by  the  nation 
and  using  the  efforts  of  all  arms  and  bodies  in  the  work  entrusted  to 
each  of  the  organic  units,  I  will  not  omit  anything  to  place  you  in  the 
condition  for  obtaining  the  victory  and  the  return  of  peace  to  this 
Island,  which  is  what  she  longs  for. 

"Sailors,  I  have  again  the  satisfaction  to  be  at  your  side,  and  I 
again  trust  that,  as  in  Mindanao  recently,  you  will  lend  me  your 
powerful  co-operation  to  bring  peace  to  this  Island.  Thus  I  expect 
surely  that  you  will  afford  me  a  new  chance  to  express  my  thanks 
and  my  enthusiasm  to  the  Spanish  navy." 

To  the  Military  Officers. 

The  following  circular  of  General  Weyler  was  addressed  to  the 
military  officers  : 

"  I  have  addressed  my  previous  proclamations  at  the  moment  of 


92  GENERAL  WEYLER  IN   CUBA. 

my  landing  to  the  loyal  inhabitants,  to  the  volunteers  and:  nremen, 
and  to  the  army  and  navy. 

"  I  may  give  you  a  slight  idea  of  the  intentions  I  have  and  the 
measures  I  shall  follow  as  Governor-General-in-Chief,  in  accordance 
with  the  general  desire  of  Spain  and  with  the  decided  aim  of  Her 
Majesty's  Government  to  furnish  all  the  means  required  to  control  and 
crush  this  rebellion. 

"  Knowing  this,  and  knowing  my  character,  I  may  perhaps  need  to 
say  no  more  to  make  you  understand  what  is  the  conduct  that  I  am 
to  follow.  But  with  the  idea  of  avoiding  all  kinds  of  doubt,  even 
keeping  (as  you  are  to  keep)  the  circulars  to  be  published,  I  deem  it 
necessary  to  make  some  remarks. 

Determined  to  Aid  the  Local  Governments. 

"  It  is  not  unknown  by  you  that  the  state  in  which  the  rebellion 
has  come  and  the  raid  made  by  the  principal  leaders  recently,  which 
could  not  be  stopped  even  by  the  active  pursuit  of  the  columns,  is 
due  to  the  indifference,  the  fear  or  the  disheartenment  of  the  inhabi 
tants.  Since  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  some,  seeing  the  burning  of 
their  property  without  opposition,  and  that  others,  who  have  been 
born  in  Spain,  should  sympathize  with  the  insurgents,  it  is  necessary 
at  all  hazards  to  better  this  state  of  things  and  to  brighten  the  spirit 
of  the  inhabitants,  making  them  aware  that  I  am  determined  to  lend 
all  my  assistance  to  the  local  inhabitants.  Sol  am  determined  to 
have  the  law  fall  with  all  its  weight  upon  all  those  in  any  way  helping 
the  enemy,  or  praising  them,  or  in  any  way  detracting  from  the 
prestige  of  Spain,  of  its  army,  or  of  its  volunteers.  It  is  necessary 
for  those  by  our  side  to  show  their  intentions  with  deeds,  and  thei» 
behavior  should  prove  that  they  are  Spanish. 

"  Since  the  defence  of  the  country  demands  the  sacrifice  of  her 
children,  it  is  necessary  that  the  towns  should  look  to  their  defence, 
and  that  no  precautions  in  the  way  of  scouts  should  be  lacking  to 
give  news  concerning  the  enemy,  and  whether  it  is  in  their  neighbor 
hood,  and  so  that  it  may  not  happen  that  the  enemy  ->honld  be  better 
informed  than  we. 


GENERAL  V/EYLER   IN   CUBA.  93 

"  The  energy  and  vigor  of  the  enemy  will  be  strained  to  trace  the 
course  of  our  line,  and  in  all  cases  you  will  arrest  and  place  at  my 
disposal  to  deliver  to  the  courts  those  who  in  any  way  shall  show 
their  sympathy  or  support  for  the  rebels. 

"  The  public  spirit  being  heatened,  you  must  not  forget  to  enlist  the 
volunteers  and  guerrillas  in  your  district,  this  not  preventing  at  the 
same  time  the  organization,  as  opportunity  offers,  of  a  guerrilla  band 
of  twenty-five  citizens  for  each  battalion  of  the  army. 

"  I  propose  that  you  shall  make  the  dispositions  you  think  most 
proper  for  the  carrying  out  of  the  plan  I  wish,  but  this  shall  not 
authorize  you  to  determine  anything  not  foreseen  in  the  instructions, 
unless  the  urgency  of  some  circumstances  should  demand  it. 

"  I  expect  that,  confining  yourself  to  these  instructions,  you  will 
lend  me  your  worthy  support  towards  the  carrying  out  of  my  plan 
for  the  good  of  the  Spanish  cause.  WEYLER." 

The  People  Alarmed. 

It  was  considered  that  General  Weyler's  Proclamation  was  poorly 
adapted  to  quiet  the  storm  of  revolution.  When  it  was  announced 
that  he  was  coming,  an  alarm  amounting  almost  to  terror  spread 
among  the  Cubans  in  the  provinces,  and  every  day  that  brought  his 
landing  nearer  increased  the  panic.  In  two  days  fifteen  hundred  peo 
ple  fled  to  Matanzas  from  the  country  south.  Others  came  into 
Havana  from  all  directions. 

In  Sabanilla,  after  the  Spanish  garrison  had  killed  the  men  to  whom 
amnesty  had  been  granted,  in  revenge  for  their  losses  and  defeat  by 
the  insurgents,  a  reign  of  terror  began  in  the  city.  Women  dared 
not  leave  their  homes.  In  many  cases  they  were  dragged  out  by  the 
Spanish  and  by  the  drunken  rabble  of  the  town,  who  had  license 
given  to  them  at  the  same  time  that  protection  was  withdrawn  from 
the  homes.  The  whole  matter  was  laid  before  the  Captain-General, 
but  he  took  no  measure  of  relief. 

A  committee  of  citizens  came  to  Havana  from  Jovellanos,  another 
place  where  the  same  sort  of  murdering  had  been  going  on.  It  was 
composed  of  both  Spanish  and  Cubans.  They  had  no  sooner  returned 


04  GENERAL  WEYLER   IN  CUBA. 

unsuccessful  in  their  mission  to  General  Marin  than  the  inhabitants 
began  to  leave,  and  more  than  half  the  population  deserted  the  city. 

The  alarm  spread  to  other  places,  and  not  without  cause.  Arrests 
ot  '*  suspects  "  were  made  in  every  town  where  there  was  a  Spanish 
garrison.  In  Havana  "  suspects  "  were  taken  every  day,  Of  a  sus 
pect's  fate  only  one  thing  could  be  learned  from  the  officials — "  He 
was  incommunicado."  That  meant  that  he  was  buried  from  the 
world.  No  one  but  the  Spanish  officers  were  then  permitted  to  see 
him,  and  unless  his  arrest  was  observed  by  some  one  who  knew  him, 
not  one  word  ever  reached  a  friend  or  family  to  explain  the  cause  of 
his  disappearance. 

The  military  executions  are  not  public  unless  the  victim  is  a 
"  rebel  chief"  or  a  cause  exists  for  a  display.  To  be  a  "suspect  "  it 
is  only  necessary  to  be  a  "  sympathizer,"  and  "  sympathy  "  is  not 
defined.  In  a  published  statement  made  by  Weyler  just  before  he 
embarked  for  Cuba  he  is  quoted  as  saying :  "  I  will  be  inexorable 
toward  spies  and  sympathizers,"  and  he  also  omitted  to  draw  the  line. 
In  Cuba  it  does  not  mean  to  extend  aid  or  comfort. 

Large  Number  of  Arrests. 

In  five  days  there  were  forty-seven  arrests  in  Pinar  del  Rio  "  on 
suspicion."  From  Jovellanos  in  Matanzas  Province  six  hundred  peo 
ple  fled  because  thirty-six  "  suspects  "  were  arrested  in  two  days. 
Some  of  these  refugees  reached  Havana,  and  their  story  was  that  six 
of  the  prisoners  were  marched  out  of  the  city  at  night,  that  firing  was 
heard,  and  that  the  guard  returned  without  them.  The  friends  of  the 
victims  were  too  much  terrified  to  manifest  their  sympathy  or  attempt 
to  recover  the  bodies,  for  fear  of  being  themselves  apprehended  as 
suspects. 

From  Santiago  people  came  to  Havana  with  the  same  reports.  At 
Hoyo  Colorado,  between  Havana  and  Guanajay,  the  Spanish  garrison 
took  seventy-nine  suspects  within  a  few  days.  This  town  was  peace 
ably  held  by  the  Cuban  army  for  several  days,  and  while  the  insur 
gents  were  there  they  hung  some  of  the  dissolute  characters  in  the 
place,  who  had  used  their  presence  as  an  excuse  for  crime.  After 


GENERAL  WEYLER  IN   CUBA.  95 

their  retirement  the  Spanish  moved  in,  and  the  wholesale  arrests 
began. 

Before  General  Weyler  set  out  from  Spain  a  cablegram  from 
Madrid  was  published  in  the  Havana  newspapers  quoting  him  as 
saying:  "  I  desire  the  insurgents  to  remain  in  Havana  and  Pinar  del 
Rio,  because  there  the  ground  is  suitable  for  wiping  them  out.  I 
believe  that  suspects  are  quite  right  in  fleeing  from  Havana,  and  when 
I  arrive  many  more  will  go."  It  is  significant  that  the  newspapers  of 
Havana  in  which  the  military  censor  caused  this  to  be  printed  dis 
played  the  statement  in  black  full-face  type. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  when  Weyler  was  named  as  a  possible  suc 
cessor  to  Captain-General  Arias  in  1894,  Campos,  who  was  not  a  can 
didate  for  the  office — the  choice  lying  between  Weyler  and  Calleja — 
said :  "  If  Weyler  is  nominated  even  the  dead  would  rise  from  their 
graves  to  protest."  Calleja  was  appointed  because  affairs  in  Cuba  were 
already  becoming  unsettled,  and  the  Spanish  Ministry  feared  that 
Weyler's  name  alone  would  be  dangerous  to  all  interests.  When  - 
ever  such  methods  were  urged  upon  Campos,  while  he  was  in  Cub?., 
he  steadfastly  resisted,  and  declared  that  humanity  had  a  call  uppn 
any  nation's  acts  in  warfare. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
Horrible  Story  of  Barbarity. 

JUST  previous  to  General  Weyler's  arrival  some  startling  fact^ 
came  out  concerning  the  battle  at  Paso  Real,  between  General 
Luque  and  General  Maceo's  division  under  Bermudez,  Zayas 
ana  Chileno.  From  an  official  Spanish  source  and  also  from  citizens 
of  Paso  Real,  who  were  eye-witnesses  of  the  battle,  it  was  learned 
that  the  hospital  was  invaded,  the  wounded  rebels  killed,  some  of 
them  in  their  beds,  and  that  when  the  thirty-seven  Spanish  prisoners, 
taken  in  the  battle  outside  the  town,  were  about  to  be  taken  away, 
Bermudez,  in  retaliation  for  the  butchery  of  his  sick,  ordered  a  line  to 
be  formed,  and  the  thirty-seven  were  pinioned  and  shot. 

The  Cubans  told  a  horrifying  tale  of  the  fight,  and  declared  that 
the  hospital  was  the  real  scene  of  which  Luque  wrote  in  his  report : 
"  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  at  the  end  of  the  day  sixty-two 
rebels  dead." 

Paso  Real  had  been  used  for  seventeen  days  as  the  insurgent 
hospital.  Maceo  had  left  all  his  wounded  there  when  he  moved  into 
Havana  province  to  operate  with  Gomez.  The  surrounding  country 
was  free,  practically,  from  Spanish  forces,  except  Luque's  command 
in  Pinar  del  Rio  City.  Maceo  counted  upon  reaching  the  people 
with  protection  if  they  were  threatened,  and  when  word  came  to  him 
that  Luque  had  left  for  Paso  Real,  he  sent  Bermudez  with  1,000 
cavalry  to  hold  the  town.  Luque,  as  he  said  in  his  report,  marched 
twenty-seven  hours,  almost  continuously,  and  when  he  reached  Paso 
Real,  he  found  only  a  small  garrison  there.  His  report  says : 

"  The  rebels  made  a  strong  defense,  firing  from  the  tops  of  houses 

and  along  the  fences  around  the  city.     The  Spanish  vanguard,  under 

Colonel  Hernandez,  attacked  the  vanguard,  centre  and  rear-guard  of 

the  rebels  in  the  central  streets  of  the  town,  driving  them  with  con- 

96 


98  HORRIBLE  STORY   OF  BARBARITY. 

tinuous  volleys  and  fierce  cavalry  charges  into  the  outskirts  of  the 
town."     And  all  this  is  true. 

Then  General  Luque  says  specifically  that  "  up  to  this  point  we 
had  killed  ten  insurgents."  And  there  the  citizens  of  Paso  Real  say 
that  the  report  is  also  true,  but  that,  having  driven  the  insurgents  out, 
the  hospital  was  attacked,  and  twenty-eight  men,  or  thirty-two  (the 
accounts  vary  between  these  two  figures),  were  killed.  They  declare 
that  shots  were  fired  through  the  windows  upon  men  lying  in  cots, 
and  that,  when  the  doors  were  broken  down,  the  rest  were  killed 
with  the  bayonet. 

A  Spirited  Fight. 

General  Luque's  report  continues  :  "  As  Colonel  Hernandez  was 
pursuing  them  (the  insurgents)  out  of  the  city,  he  encountered  1,000 
cavalry  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  ready  to  attack  him."  This  was 
Bermudez  and  his  cavalry,  who  had  come  up  at  that  moment.  A. 
Spanish  officer  who  was  in  this  fight  said  :  "  It  was  as  hot  as  any 
fight  we  have  ever  had  in  this  war.  It  seemed  twice  as  if  they  were 
piling  all  over  us.  We  just  kept  on  firing,  and  I  could  see  men 
going  down  on  both  sides.  Sometimes  we  couldn't  see  anything  for 
the  smoke,  but  when  it  cleared  the  men  only  dropped  so  much 
faster  that  we  wanted  it  back  again.  I  came  away  at  once  when  the 
fight  was  over,  and  I  don't  know  what  the  losses  were,  but  they  must 
have  been  very  large  on  both  sides." 

Of  this  the  report  says  :  "  The  Spanish  forces  advanced  from  one 
position  to  another,  firing  volleys.  They  were  met  by  the  enemy, 
whose  cavalry  charged,  coming  as  far  as  the  bayonet  points  of  the 
Spanish  soldiers.  The  first  time  we  repelled  them  in  straight  lines, 
the  second  time  in  circular  groups."  From  anything  but  a  Spanish 
standpoint  this  peculiar  progression  of  tactics  would  indicate  that  the 
Spanish  straight  lines  were  very  seriously  broken,  and  that  the  "  cir 
cular  groups "  which  followed  were  either  accident  or  necessity, 
but  General  Luque  says  that  it  really  meant  that  "  the  rebels  were 
thus  utterly  dispersed  and  retreated  in  the  direction  of  Palacios." 

This  part    of   the    day's    conflict   was    where    the    thirty-seven 


HORRIBLE   STORY   OF  BARBARITY.  99 

Spanish  were  made  prisoners.  It  was  after  the  fight  that  Bermudez 
learned  what  had  occurred  in  the  town,  and  then  he  shot  them  and 
left  their  bodies  on  the  ground,  where  they  were  buried  that  night  by 
the  Spanish,  all  in  one  grave.  General  Luque  reported  this  fight  as 
a  great  victory.  There  are  Spanish  school  histories  which  say 
Nelson's  fleet  was  defeated  at  Trafalgar.  The  Spanish  newspapers 
at  Havana  were  still  referring  to  "  the  most  glorious  victory  at  Los 
Arrovos,"  where  in  the  early  fall  one  of  their  strong  forces  was 
utterly  defeated,  and  the  official  Spanish  report  of  Campos'  defeat 
and  retreat  from  Mai  Tiempo  still  reads,  "  Our  side  had  but  seventeen 
killed." 

A  Disastrous  Campaign. 

Under  date  of  February  8th,  we  have  an  account  of  the  operations 
of  the  Spanish  General  ,Sabas  Marin,  who  left  Havana  a  short  time 
before.  His  campaign  in  search  of  General  Gomez  was  disastrous, 
and  the  official  reports  of  Spanish  victories  were  misleading.  There 
were  losses  on  both  sides,  but  Marin  accomplished  absolutely  nothing 
of  what  he  intended  to  achieve. 

The  first  misfortune  which  overtook  the  Spaniards  was  the  rout  of 
Carnellas,  on  the  very  day  on  which  Marin  ieft  Havana.  Canellas 
left  Guanajay  in  the  morning  with  1,500  infantry.  His  rout  was 
known  to  Gomez,  who  sent  Pedro  Diaz  with  400  infantry  and  1,000 
cavalry  to  engage  him  at  the  Saladrigas  plantation,  while  the  mair 
army  moved  safely  eastward,  a  few  miles  to  the  south.  It  was 
Gomez's  intention  to  come  up  in  the  rear  of  Marin  between  the 
Captain-General's  forces  and  the  Spanish  line. 

Diaz  reached  Saladrigas  early  in  the  morning.  Near  the  road  the 
land  is  cut  into  small  sections  by  stone  fences,  and  a  high  fence 
fronted  by  a  ditch  faces  the  road.  Just  beyond  this  point  is  a  sharp 
hill,  around  which  the  road  turns.  Behind  the  hill  Diaz  waited  in 
concealment  with,  the  i,opo  cavalry  for  the  sound  of  firing  from  the 
400  infantry  who  were  hidden  behind  the  fence  where  Canellas  was 
to  pass.  Nearly  three  hours  they  were  lying  there,  when  the  head  of 
the  Spanish  column  appeared.  The  advance  guard  was  allowed  to 
pass,  and  the  main  body  was  completely  in  the  trap  when  volleys 


100 


HORRIBLE   STORY   OF  BARBARITY. 


were  poured  into  them,  fairly  mowing  them  down.  Canellas  made 
a  brave  stand  and  attempted  to  dislodge  the  rebels,  but  his  men 
were  panic-stricken,  and  some  of  them  had  fled  before  he  had  his 
force  under  control. 

As  the  first  charge  was  being  made  Diaz  came  down  upon  his 


THE   OLD    FORT   HAVANA. 

flank  and  rear  with  the  thousand  cavalry.  The  onslaught  was  irre 
sistible.  Half  of  Diaz's  men  never  fired  a  shot,  but  howling 
"Machete!"  they  rode  furiously  upon  the  Spanish  lines,  cutting 
their  way  through  with  the  ugly  weapon  of  which  they  are  such 
masters. 

Diaz  had  not  placed  enough  men  behind  the  wall  to  hold  it,  and 
the  Spanish  succeeded  in  gaining  it  after  a  hot  struggle.  They  were 
but  little  better  off,  however,  as  the  insurgents  took  cover  behind 
another  fence  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  field.  Again  they  were 
dislodged  and  forced  back,  while  from  the  first  position  about  half  of 
Canellas'  force  withstood  the  cavalry.  Diaz,  sheltered  in  under 
brush  and  woods,  kept  up  a  scattered  firing  for  over  two  hours,  and 
then  withdrew. 

That  night    Canellas  remained  on  the  battle-ground.     As  soon  as 


HORRIBLE   STORY    OF   BARBARITY.  101 

Diaz  was  gone,  picket  lines  were  thrown  out  and  the  burying  of  the 
dead  began.  It  was  midnight  when  Canellas  resumed  his  march 
toward  San  Antonio,  and  when  he  brought  in  what  was  left  of  his 
command  Marin  hastened  back  with  all  his  force,  to  the  main  line 
and  went  down  to  Quivican. 

No  official  report  of  this  battle  was  issued  by  the  Spanish.  So  far 
as  the  record  shows  it  never  occurred.  A  Spanish  general  admitted 
that  Carnellas  lost  200  men.  An  eye-witness  of  the  fight,  who 
reached  Havana  that  night,  said  the  loss  was  greater.  Gomez's  march 
was  thus  saved  from  interruption  by  Marin.  The  next  day,  while 
Marin  was  at  Quivican,  Gomez's  forces  were  near  Guira,  in  the 
Havana  province.  Gomez  himself  was  that  day  at  the  Mirosa  plan 
tation,  east  of  the  Spanish  line,  with  about  400  men.  He  had  come 
down  from  the  Bahia  Honda  district,  through  the  same  country 
Maceo  was  traversing. 

Capture  of  a  Railroad  Train. 

Next  day,  while  Marin  was  moving  trains  loaded  with  men  out 
over  the  branch  road  toward  Guira  for  another  move  upon  Gomez, 
occurred  the  second  and  by  far  the  most  serious  of  the  Spanish  disas 
ters.  It  was  nothing  less.  Diaz,  until  now  unheard  of  as  a  rebel 
leader,  came  in  behind  Marin  and  captured  a  railroad  train  of  twenty- 
nine  cars  directly  on  the  trocha,  two  miles  south  of  San  Felipe.  He 
took  1,000  Mauser  rifles,  200,000  cartridges,  two  rapid-fire  cannon 
and  killed  or  captured  the  whole  Spanish  escort  with  the  train. 
Then  Marin  returned  again  in  all  haste  to  Quivican. 

This  event  has  been  embodied  in  an  official  report,  but  the  report 
agrees  neither  with  what  the  Spanish  permitted  to  be  printed  in  the 
Havana  papers  nor  with  the  facts  which  were  collected  down  the 
line.  The  rebels  tore  up  the  rails  for  a  space  of  300  yards.  They 
were  unmolested,  as  the  Spanish  had  no  idea  that  they  would  venture 
"  into  the  face  of  death,"  as  they  say  when  referring  to  the  trocha. 
Furthermore,  Marin  was  out  toward  Guira,  again  engaged  in  sur 
rounding  Gomez. 

Diaz,  with  400  men,  waited  for  the  train  in  comparative  security 


102  HORRIBLE   STORY   OF  BARBARITY. 

until  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  It  was  guarded  by  only  forty-two 
Spanish  soldiers,  and  they  were  part  in  an  armored  car  and  part  scat 
tered  along  the  top  of  the  train.  The  engine  ran  on  to  the  broken 
track  and  rolled  over  into  the  ditch.  As  soon  as  it  struck,  the  rebels 
fired  on  the  train,  killing  Major  Lopez  Tovezulla,  who  was  in  com 
mand,  a  lieutenant,  a  sergeant  and  fourteen  of  the  soldiers.  Then 
the  rest  surrendered  their  arms  and  the  insurgents  demanded  the 
number  of  the  car  in  which  the  rapid-fire  cannon  were  stored.  The 
soldiers  declared  they  were  left  behind,  and  then  the  looting  of  the 
train  began. 

When  all  that  the  400  men  could  carry  had  been  loaded  on  their 
horses,  and  some  mules  taken  from  the  train  had  been  hitched  to  the 
cannon,  Gen.  Linares,  who  had  heard  the  firing  at  San  Felipe,  came 
up  with  2,000  infantry.  The  insurgents  retired  in  the  direction  of 
Guira  without  waiting  to  engage  with  his  force.  Linares'  men 
managed  to  save  eight  of  the  cars  with  part  of  their  freight.  The 
other  twenty-two  were  burned,  having  been  fired  by  the  rebels.  The 
train  had  one  of  the  richest  freights  which  had  gone  down  the  road 
in  a  long  time.  It  was  to  be  put  on  a  steamer  and  sent  to  several 
ports  on  the  south  coast. 

The  insurgents  not  only  knew  the  exact  time  of  its  passing,  but  of 
its  contents,  and  the  "  Diario  de  la  Marina,"  the  Spanish  newspaper  in 
Havana,  gravely  requested  in  its  leading  editorial  that  Gen.  Marin 
investigate  to  discover  how  the  insurgents  became  informed  and  take 
precautions  to  prevent  the  repetition  of  such  an  unseemly  occur 
rence. 

The  Spanish  official  report  said  that  the  Spanish  guard  did  not 
surrender,  and  that  they  retained  their  arms.  The  only  arms  Gen. 
Linares  brought  back  to  San  Felipe  which  he  did  not  take  out  were 
some  old  shot-guns,  muskets  and  muzzle-loading  rifles.  The  Cubans 
declare  that  these  were  thrown  away  by  the  rebels  when  they 
secured  the  Mausers,  and  they  are  strong  evidence  that  this  Cuban 
version  is  the  true  one. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
Men  and  Arms  for  Cuba. 

FROM  the  beginning  of  the  Cuban  uprising  constant  attempts 
have  been  made  to  supply  the  insurgents  with  arms  and 
ammunition  from  our  own  country.  Secret  agents  were  at 
work  in  many  places,  and  Spanish  spies  were  equally  active.  It  was 
well  understood  that  several  expeditions  had  succeeded  in  effecting  a 
landing  in  Cuba,  and  the  supplies  thus  furnished  had  been  of  material 
help  to  General  Gomez  and  his  troops. 

Our  government  officials,  while  sympathizing  with  the  cause  of 
Cuba,  were  nevertheless  active  in  preventing  the  shipment  of  arms. 
But  a  sea-coast  as  long  as  ours,  with  a  great  number  of  ports,  has 
afforded  ample  opportunity  for  expeditions  to  be  fitted  out  secretly, 
and  it  seems  impossible  for  Spanish  gunboats  to  prevent  entirely  the 
Cuban  army  from  obtaining  supplies  from  outside  sources. 

The  following  account  of  the  seizure  of  a  vessel  will  be  of  interest 
to  the  reader :  The  iron  steamer  "  Bermuda,"  flying  the  British  flag, 
was  boarded  and  seized  by  New  York  revenue  officers  off  Liberty 
Island  late  on  the  night  of  Feb.  24.  The  "  Bermuda  "  had  been  under 
the  watch  of  Spanish  spies  for  some  time.  They  had  reason  to  believe 
that  she  had  been  bought  by  Cuban  revolutionists  and  was  fitting  out 
as  a  filibuster.  She  had  been  anchored  off  Liberty  Island  for  several 
days,  and  there  was  evidence  that  she  was  preparing  for  sea. 

At  1 1  P.  M.,  just  after  a  large  party  of  Cubans  had  gone  aboard,  the 
revenue  cutter  "  Hudson  "  steamed  alongside,  and  a  boarding  party 
arrested  all  on  the  "  Bermuda."  At  midnight  the  revenue  cutter 
"  Chandler "  started  down  the  bay  to  catch  a  lighter  loaded  with 
ammunition  and  look  for  another  party  of  Cubans  who  had  started  to 
board  the  "  Bermuda." 

The  tf  Bermuda  "  was  an  English-built  steamer  formerly  running  in 

103 


104  MEN  AND  ARMS   FOR   CUBA. 

the  Outerbridge  Line.  She  was  purchased  by  a  firm  suspected  of 
being  in  league  with  the  revolutionary  party.  She  was  recently 
taken  to  the  coal  docks  at  Port  Liberty,  and  there  coaled  up.  Then 
she  went  to  the  Liberty  Island  anchorage.  When  the  tug  ran  along 
side  the  marshals  and  Pinkerton  men  swarmed  aboard.  No  resistance 
was  offered  by  the  frightened  crew  and  Cubans,  who  had  just  come 
aboard.  Every  man  was  seized.  Among  the  captives  were  General 
Garcia  and  several  other  prominent  Cubans.  Several  bags  of  gold 
were  seized  by  the  marshals  and  a  quantity  of  ammunition. 

Revolutionists  Arrested. 

General  Calixto  Garcia  and  about  sixty  other  of  the  leading  spirits 
in  the  Cuban  revolutionary  cause  were  brought  to  the  Federal 
Building.  The  warrant  upon  which  the  200  Cuban  revolutionists 
were  taken  into  custody  was  drawn  in  accordance  with  the  section  of 
the  Federal  Revised  Statutes,  which  is  a  portion  of  what  is  known  as 
the  "  Neutrality  Act." 

A  great  many  of  the  prisoners  found  on  the  "  Bermuda  "  and  the 
two  tug-boats  were  survivors  of  the  expedition  which  left  the  Ne\v 
Haven  river  a  month  before  on  the  "  J.  W.  Hawkins,"  which  sunk  off 
the  south  shore  of  Long  Island,  a  number  of  men  going  down  with 
the  wreck.  Afterward  the  filibusters  were  watched  by  spies  employed 
by  the  Spanish  and  United  States  governments.  The  surveillance 
led  to  the  discovery  that  General  Garcia  and  his  followers  had  pur 
chased  the  "  Bermuda "  to  take  a  large  company  of  insurgents  to 
Cuba,  with  arms  and  ammunition.  The  "  Bermuda,"  which  had 
been  granted  clearance  papers  at  the  custom  house  to  Santa  Martha, 
United  States  of  Colombia,  was  making  ready  to  leave  port  when 
United  States  Marshals  McCarthy  and  Kennedy  made  their  raid. 
The  steam  lighter  "  Stranahan,"  which  had  left  one  of  the  Brooklyn 
piers,  was  seized,  the  ammunition  in  boxes,  which  was  concealed 
beneath  piles  of  cord-wood,  and  on  the  "  Bermuda "  were  found 
several  bags  of  gold  coin. 

The  prisoners  were  released  because  their  arrest  was  in  violation 
of  the  instructions  ser-t  out  from  Washington  by  Attorney- General 


MEN   AND   ARMS   FOR   CUBA. 


10  0 


Harmon,  that  suspicion  merely  was  not  sufficient  ground  for  arrest, 
but  that  evidence  of  intention  to  violate  the  neutrality  laws  was 
required. 

The  trial  of  Captain  Wiborg,  First  Mate  Petersen  and  Second 
Mate  Johansen,  of  the  steamship  "  Horsa,"  on  the  charge  of  begin 
ning  a  military  expedition,  to  carry  men  and  arms  to  Cuba,  to  aid  in 


MARINE  WHARF— HAVANA. 

the  insurrection  against  Spain,  was  held  in  Philadelphia  in  the  latter 
part  of  February,  before  Judge  Butler  in  the  United  States  District 
Court. 

In  the  course  of  the  proceedings,  District  Attorney  Ingham  called 
for  the  production  by  Captain  Wiborg  of  the  charter  under  which  the 
"Horsa"  made  the  trip  from  Philadelphia  to  Port  Antonio,  during 
which  the  alleged  offence  was  said  to  have  been  committed.  Mr. 
Ker,  counsel  for  the  defence,  contended  that  if  the  "  Horsa "  was 
more  than  three  miles  out  from  the  shore  at  Barnegat,  when  the  men 
and  ammunition  were  taken  on  board,  the  alleged  offence  did  not 
come  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States. 

The  Judge  said  that  if  it  was  proven  that  the  defendants  did  not 


106  MEN  AND   ARMS   FOR   CUBA. 

know  where  the  men  were  going  he  would  affirm  the  point.  In 
reply  District  Attorney  Ingham  said  that  he  did  not  rest  the  United 
States'  case  on  that  question.  He  relied  on  the  testimony  which  was 
heard  to  show  that  there  was  an  organization,  and  that  it  took  place 
in  the  United  States,  and  that  under  it  men  and  arms  were  taken  to 
Cuba. 

Testimony  of  a  Fireman. 

The  examination  began  with  Oscar  Svensen,  one  of  the  "  Horsa's  " 
firemen.  The  witness  related  that  portions  of  the  ship  were  repainted, 
and  then,  coming  down  to  the  time  when  the  thirty  or  forty  men 
were  taken  on  board  to  be  conveyed  to  Cuba,  he  said  that  he  told 
the  chief  engineer  that  he  did  not  wish  to  go  along,  and  desired  to 
go  ashore.  The  witness  said  that  the  chief  replied  that  his  life  was 
as  dear  to  him  as  the  lives  of  the  witness  and  the  men  complaining 
with  him  were  to  them,  and  that  the  captain  had  said  it  was  all  right. 

Svensen  said  he  had  taken  five  trips  on  the  "Horsa;"  that  he 
knew  Firemen  Armstrong  and  Fredericksen  of  the  vessel ;  also  that 
nothing  about  money  was  said  by  the  captain  when  the  witness  and 
the  men  with  him  had  raised  objections  to  going  along. 

Svensen  said  that  some  of  the  men  taken  on  board  on  one  occasion 
had  an  exercise.  He  had  heard  the  cannon  fired  and  saw  the  smoke. 
Regarding  the  boxes  said  to  have  contained  ammunition,  the  witness 
said  that  a  fellow  from  Jamaica  had  opened  them.  The  pay  of 
Svensen  was  $25  per  month.  To  the  question  when  he  had  first 
told  his  story  and  to  whom,  the  witness  answered  by  the  statement 
that  it  was  two  weeks  ago,  and  to  a  Pinkerton  Agency  man.  The 
pay  he  received  for  giving  information  and  his  detention  here  was 
$2  per  day  and  board. 

After  some  further  questioning  by  counsel,  the  witness,  in  answer 
to  a  question  by  the  Judge,  said  that  he  shipped  in  Philadelphia, 
but  that  he  did  not  know  whether  the  other  firemen  were  employed 
here  or  not.  Svensen  was  shown  a  number  of  swords  and  machetes, 
some  of  which  he  designated  as  "  banana  snipes." 

The  next  witness  was  Ludwig  Gustav  Jensen,  who  was  also  a  fire 
man  on  the  "  Horsa."  Jensen  said  that  he  had  wanted  extra  pay  to 


MEN   AND   ARMS    FOR   CUBA.  107 

go  on  the  ship,  after  the  thirty  or  forty  men  were  taken  aboard,  and 
spoke  to  the  chief  engineer  about  it.  The  latter  had  said  that  if 
anybody  was  to  get  hung  it  would  be  him,  the  chief  engineer,  and 
not  the  crew.  In  reply  to  questions  from  the  Judge,  the  witness 
described  the  cartridge  boxes,  said  he  saw  six  of  the  men  taken  on 
board  drill,  and  described  the  rifles  and  guns. 

The  Captain  on  the  Stand. 

Edward  N.  Taxis  and  Herbert  Ker  testified  that  the  machetes  car 
ried  by  the  men  were  to  be  seen  strapped  to  the  waists  or  slung  over 
the  shoulders  of  nearly  every  inhabitant  of  the  West  Indies.  Mr. 
Ker  also  testified  that  he  had  taken  a  trip  to  Africa  on  the  "  Horsa  " 
last  March,  and  was  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  vessel.  He  said  it 
was  customary  to  paint  the  funnels  and  other  portions  of  the  vessel 
at  sea,  and  he  had  often  seen  it  done.  During  his  trip  to  Africa  he 
on  one  occasion  happened  to  particularly  notice  the  name  on  the 
stern  of  the  vessel,  and  he  testified  that  the  name  was  in  brass  letters 
about  six  or  eight  inches  high,  and  were  raised  about  one  inch. 

Captain  Wiborg  was  then  called  as  a  witness  in  his  own  behalf. 
Before  beginning  his  examination  Mr.  Ker  stated  to  the  court  that 
the  mere  making  of  an  affidavit  by  any  one  in  the  court-room,  who 
might  hear  this  witness'  testimony,  would  result  in  his  life  being  for 
feited  should  he  ever  set  foot  in  Spanish  dominion,  and  he  thought  it 
nis  duty,  in  order  to  protect  his  client  as  far  as  possible,  to  ask  the 
court  to  forbid  the  publication  of  his  testimony  or  to  exclude  every 
one  from  the  court-room  while  he  was  being  examined. 

Judge  Butler  said  the  court  was  there  to  try  the  case  according  to 
the  evidence,  and  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  risk  the  witness  took  in 
giving  his  testimony.  He  was  not  compelled  to  testify,  and  what 
ever  evidence  he  gave  would  be  voluntary,  with  the  full  knowledge 
on  the  part  of  the  witness  of  the  responsibility  he  was  taking. 

Captain  Wiborg  testified  that  he  had  been  captain  of  the  steamer 
"  Horsa"  two  years.  On  the  evening  of  November  9,  1895,  he  left 
Philadelphia  for  Jamaica  between  7  and  8  o'clock.  Before  leaving 
port  the  name  of  the  vessel  was  scraped  off  the  side  of  the  vessel  on 


108  MEN  AND   ARMS   FOR   CUBA. 

account  of  iron  rust.  He  had  regular  clearance  papers.  The  name 
of  the  vessel  was  also  on  the  stern  of  the  vessel  in  brass  letters  or 
composition.  He  had  two  boats  and  two  horses,  and  a  lot  of  empty 
boxes  and  barrels.  He  received  a  message  to  go  opposite  Barnegat 
and  await  orders,  which  he  did. 

He  anchored  four  or  five  miles  from  shore.  He  anchored  because 
the  chief  engineer  told  him  part  of  the  machinery  was  not  working 
properly,  and  he  should  keep  the  ship  in  smooth  water.  While 
there  anchored  he  received  a  message  by  tug  telling  him  to  take  the 
men  and  boats  on  board  and  deliver  the  boats  to  the  men  when  they 
called  for  them.  The  men  walked  through  the  port  between  decks 
when  they  boarded  his  vessel.  He  then  proceeded  southward  and 
passed  Waterland  Island  towards  Jamaica.  This  route  is  called 
Crooked  Island  passage. 

Off  the  Cuban  Coast. 

In  taking  this  route  to  Jamaica,  the  captaia  said,  it  was  necessary 
to  sail  along  the  coast  of  Cuba  for  about  six  hours.  It  was  when  his 
vessel  was  about  six  miles  off  the  Cuban  coast  that  a  colored  man, 
who  was  said  to  be  a  pilot,  told  him  to  stop  the  vessel  and  let  the 
men  off.  He  did  so,  and  the  men  got  into  the  boats,  taking  as  many 
boxes  as  they  could  carry,  and  then  asked  him  to  tow  them  in 
towards  shore  a  bit,  which  he  did. 

In  answer  to  questions,  the  witness  said  that  the  men  did  not  have 
the  appearance  of  soldiers,  and  he  had  no  knowledge  that  they  were 
going  to  take  part  in  the  war  in  Cuba.  In  giving  them  passage  he 
had  obeyed  orders,  and  had  no  right  to  refuse  them.  All  told,  he 
said,  there  were  39  men  transferred  to  the  <f  Horsa/'  and  they  brought 
a  lot  of  boxes  with  them.  They  did  not  call  upon  him  for  meals,  but 
brought  their  own  food  with  them  in  the  boxes,  some  of  which  con 
tained  canned  goods  and  hardtack.  He  said  the  men  had  guns,  but 
he  did  not  think  anything  of  that,  as  he  had  often  seen  passengers 
carry  guns  on  his  vessel.  He  saw  the  cannon  which  they  brought, 
and  at  first  he  thought  it  was  one  of  his  own,  as  it  was  very  much 
like  them.  The  captain  said  that  he  had  two  cannons  on  the  "  Horsa," 


MEN   AND    ARMS    FOR   CUBA.  109 

one  a  small  brass  one,  which  was  used  in  firing  salutes,  and  the  other 
of  considerable  size. 

The  following  was  Judge  Butler's  charge:  "The  defendants  being, 
or  rather  having  been  at  the  time  in  question,  officers  of  the  ship, 
the  first  as  captain,  and  the  others  as  mates,  are  indicted  jointly  and 
also  separately,  in  which  indictments  it  is  charged  that  '  they,  within 
the  territory  and  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States,  did  begin,  set  on 
foot,  and  provide  and  prepare  the  means  for  a  certain  military  expe 
dition  and  enterprise  to  be  carried  on  from  thence  against  the  terri 
tory  and  dominions  of  a  foreign  prince,  to  wit:  Against  the  Island  of 
Cuba,  the  said  Island  being  then  and  there  the  territory  and  domin 
ions  of  the  King  of  Spain,  the  said  United  States  being  at  peace  with 
the  said  king,  contrary  to  the  Act  of  Congress  in  such  case  made  and 
provided.' 

Was  it  a  Military  Expedition? 

"The  evidence  heard  would  not  justify  a  conviction  of  anything 
more  than  providing  the  means  for  or  aiding  such  military  expedition, 
as  by  furnishing  transportation  for  the  men,  their  arms,  baggage,  etc. 
To  convict  them  you  must  be  fully  satisfied  by  the  evidence  that  a 
military  expedition  was  organized  in  this  country  to  be  carried  out 
as,  and  with  the  object,  charged  in  the  bill ;  and  that  the  defendants 
with  knowledge  of  this  provided  means  for  its  assistance  and  assisted 
it  as  before  stated." 

In  commenting  on  the  Judge's  decisions,  counsel  for  the  defence 
said:  "  It  has  been  decided  that,  'it  is  no  offence  against  the  laws  of 
the  United  States  to  transport  arms,  ammunition  and  munitions  of 
war  from  this  country  to  any  foreign  country,  nor  is  it  any  offence  to 
transport  persons  intending  to  enlist  in  foreign  armies,  and  arms  and 
munitions  of  war  on  the  same  ship.  In  such  cases  the  persons  trans 
ported  and  the  shipper  run  the  risk  of  seizure  and  capture  by  the 
foreign  power,  against  whom  the  arms  were  to  be  used.' 

"The  Judge  further  charges  that  the  putting  out  of  lights  and  the 
taking  on  and  transferring  of  passengers  and  boxes  of  arms  on  the 
high  seas  are  acts  which  are  perfectly  lawful,  in  order  to  prevent  cap 
ture  by  a  Spanish  man-of-war. 


110  MEN   AND   ARMS   FOR   CUBA. 

"  If  the  Spaniards  want  to  stop  the  landing  of  arms  in  Cuba,  let 
them  close  the  ports  of  the  Island.  This,  of  course,  they  won't  do." 

When  the  case  was  given  to  the  jury,  they  deliberated  twelve  hours, 
then  brought  in  a  verdict  of  guilty  against  Captain  Wiborg  and  his 
officers,  who  were  sentenced  to  fines  and  imprisonment  from  one 
year  to  fifteen  months.  An  appeal  was  taken,  and  the  men  were 
liberated  on  bail. 

What  Became  of  the  "Bermuda?" 

It  is  necessary  at  this  point  to  anticipate  a  little  the  order  of  events 
and  state  what  became  of  the  steamer  "  Bermuda,"  referred  to  in  the 
first  part  of  this  chapter.  The  quiet,  easy-going  people  of  Somers 
Point,  N.  J.,  Ocean  City,  Beesley's  Point  and  Tuckahoe  suddenly 
awakened,  on  March  17,  to  the  fact  that  a  big  Cuban  filibustering 
expedition  lias  just  cleared  from  their  midst  without  one  of  them  for 
a  moment  suspecting  what  the  strange  movements  of  the  large  body 
of  swarthy-skinned  visitors  meant. 

The  steamer  "  Atlantic  City  "  took  the  Cuban  patriots,  who  reached 
Tuckahoe  on  the  night  of  the  i6th,  out  to  the  famous  "  Bermuda," 
which  at  6  o'clock  sharp  gave  five  shrill  signal  whistles,  announcing 
that  she  was  awaiting  them  just  off  the  Great  Egg  Harbor  bar.  Three 
hours  afterwards  the  "  Atlantic  City  "  returned  to  her  winter  berth  at 
Tuckahoe,  having  safely  transferred  her  passengers  to  the  "  Ber 
muda,"  which  promptly  steamed  away  southward.  The  party  con 
sisted  of  General  Garcia  and  his  32  compatriots,  who  left  Philadelphia 
on  the  1 5th,  and  about  30  other  volunteers  for  Cuban  freedom,  who 
joined  them  in  some  mysterious  way  afterward. 

In  a  clever  manner  the  Cubans  eluded  the  spies  in  the  employ  of 
Spain,  who  followed  their  tug  down  the  Delaware  on  the  night  of  the 
1 5th.  The  tug  started  ostensibly  for  Cape  Henlopen,  where  it  was 
supposed  the  filibusters  were  to  be  put  aboard  the  "  Bermuda."  The 
tug  led  the  Spanish  spies  a  merry  chase  about  the  Delaware  Bay,  and 
then,  under  cover  of  a  heavy  fog,  slipped  back  up  the  Delaware, 
unsuspected  and  unnoticed,  reaching  Kaighn's  Point,  Camden,  at  an 
hour  on  Monday  evening,  the  l6th.  Here  a  special  trair>  on 


MEN  AND  ARMS  FOR   CUBA.  Ill 

the  Reading  Railroad  awaited  them,  and  the  Cuban  patriots  were 
swiftly  borne  to  Tuckahoe,  which  is  only  about  eight  miles  from 
Great  Egg  Harbor  Bay. 

When  the  big  party,  which  was  said  to  have  numbered  fully  60, 
arrived  at  the  little  Jersey  town,  they  began  looking  about  for  some 
thing  to  eat.  There  was  no  hotel  of  any  consequence  at  the  place, 
and,  to  make  matters  worse,  no  stimulants  of  any  kind  could  be  pro 
cured.  Finally  two  handsome  young  Tuckahoe  girls,  who  were  on 
their  way  home  from  an  evening  sociable  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
town,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Cubans,  and  two  of  the  best  look 
ing  men  of  the  party  were  delegated  to  interview  them  on  the 
"  grub  "  question. 

Supper  for  Patriots. 

The  girls  readily  agreed  to  prepare  supper  for  them,  and  were 
handed  $50  each  to  stimulate  them  in  their  efforts  to  get  a  hurried 
meal  for  the  hungry  patriots.  They  were  warned  not  to  make  any 
stir  oyer  the  matter,  and  to  say  not  a  word  to  their  neighbors  until 
the  party  had  left  the  place. 

The  Cubans  ate  their  late  supper  in  squads,  and  after  liberally 
complimenting  the  accommodating  girls  left  the  house  in  the  best  of 
humor  and  quietly  boarded  the  steamer  "  Atlantic  City,'7  which  was 
lying  at  the  wharf,  above  the  drawbridge.  The  crew  of  the  steamer 
were  asleep  at  their  homes  in  Tuckahoe,  they  having  no  knowledge 
whatever  of  the  human  freight  which  was  taken  aboard  during  their 
absence  by  Captain  Reuben  Young,  of  the  "  Atlantic  City." 

Meantime  a  man  claiming  to  be  Captain  J.  F.  R.  Gandy,  of  the 
steamer  "  Atlantic  City,"  had  journeyed  from  Tuckahoe  to  Somers 
Point,  where  he  called  on  Deputy  Customs  Collector  James  Scull,  and 
made  application  to  have  the  certificate  of  inspection  of  the  "  Atlantic 
City "  changed,  so  as  to  permit  that  boat  to  navigate  anywhere 
along  the  coast  within  ten  miles  of  the  shore.  The  boat  had  been 
in  service  at  the  Inlet  at  Atlantic  City  in  the  summer  of  1895,  being 
one  of  the  fleet  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Steamboat  Company,  an 
Atlantic  City  organization. 


112  MEN   AND   ARMS   FOR   CUBA. 

Captain  Gandy  informed  Deputy  Scull  that  he  was  in  a  big  hurry 
to  get  the  papers,  and  was  willing  to  pay  handsomely  to  have  them 
hurried  down  to  Tuckahoe.  On  being  asked  where  he  was  going, 
he  said  he  was  engaged  to  take  a  party  south,  and  would  leave  as 
soon  as  the  weather  would  permit.  It  was  still  foggy  when  Captain 
Gandy  reached  Somers  Point,  on  Monday  morning,  and  he  appeared 
to  be  very  much  irritated  at  the  atmospheric  outlook.  He  made  a 
diligent  search  for  the  metropolitan  morning  papers,  and  paid  any 
price  asked  for  them.  He  started  back  to  Tuckahoe  by  way  of 
Beesley's  Point.  The  inspection  papers  were  mailed  on  Monday 
afternoon  by  Deputy  Scull,  and  could  not  possibly  have  reached 
Tuckahoe  before  Tuesday  morning. 

General  Garcia  on  Shore. 

Captain  Gandy  had  inquired  if  he  could  not  sail  without  the 
papers,  but  was  warned  by  Mr.  Scull  to  wait  until  they  reached  him 
or  he  might  get  into  trouble.  The  "  Atlantic  City  "  left  Tuckahoe 
however,  at  6  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning,  long  before  the  morning 
mail  arrived  there.  She  steamed  to  Ocean  City,  which  is  about  five 
miles  off,  and  anchored  in  the  Ocean  City  channel. 

Here  the  sloop-yacht  "  Black  Ball,"  Captain  Samuel  B.  Scull,  put 
out  to  the  "  Atlantic  City  "  and  took  a  man,  who  has  since  been  identi 
fied  as  General  Garcia,  ashore.  The  General  remained  on  the  little 
wharf,  while  the  sloop  carried  out  several  loads  of  provisions  for  the 
consumption  of  the  Cuban  patriots  aboard  the  steamer.  The  fact 
that  Ocean  City  is  a  temperance  town  was  a  source  of  serious  dis 
appointment  to  the  "Atlantic  City's"  passengers,  almost  all  of  whom 
were  shivering  with  the  cold  after  their  cheerless  night  on  the 
Tuckahoe  River. 

All  Tuesday  afternoon  and  night  General  Garcia  and  his  men 
anxiously  awaited  a  signal  from  the  "  Bermuda,"  which  had  left  New- 
York  on  Saturday  morning.  The  cramped  quarters  aboard  the 
"  Atlantic  City,"  and  their  desire  to  get  away  before  suspicion  was 
aroused  as  to  the  character  and  destination  of  the  expedition,  kept 
the  Cubans  in  an  uneasy  state  of  mind.  Not  one  of  them,  save 


MEN   AND   ARMS   FOR   CUBA.  118 

General  Garcia,  appeared  above  deck  while  the  "  Atlantic  City  "  was 
archored  in  the  bay,  and  no  one,  not  even  Captain  Scull,  of  the  busy 
"  Black  Ball,"  was  allowed  aboard. 

When  at  last  the  shrill  screeches  of  the  "  Bermuda's  "  whistle 
resounded  over  the  bay,  a  stifled  cheer  came  from  the  impatient 
Cubans  below  deck,  and  all  was  activity  aboard  the  little  pleasure- 
steamer.  The  anchor  was  hastily  weighed,  and  the  "  Atlantic  City  '' 
swiftly  headed  for  the  open  sea.  As  she  cleared  the  Great  Eg;g 
Harbor  bar  the  men  swarmed  on  deck,  and  cheer  after  cheer  went  up 
as  they  sighted  the  black  hull  of  the  "  Bermuda  "  at  a  distance. 
Then,  and  not  till  then,  did  the  people  of  shore  towns  suspect  the 
true  character  of  the  mysterious  party  of  Southern  excursionists,  as 
they  had  been  frequently  referred  to. 

Previous  to  that  it  had  been  industriously  noised  about  that  the 
"  Atlantic  City  "  had  been  chartered  to  take  a  party  of  laborers  to  Cor- 
son's  Inlet,  where,  it  was  said,  work  was  to  be  begun  on  the  proposed 
new  branch  of  the  South  Jersey  Railroad  to  Ocean  City.  The  whole 
details  for  the  transfer  of  the  Cubans  from  Tuckahoe  had  evidently 
been  arranged  on  Saturday,  about  the  time  the  "  Bermuda"  left  New 
York. 

The  charter  of  the  Philadelphia  tug  was  a  clever  ruse  to  throw  the 
Spanish  spies  off  the  track,  and  evidently  worked  perfectly  in  every 
detail. 

8 


CHAPTER  X. 
Imprisonments  and  Massacres. 

EARLY  in  March  the  prisons  of  Cuba  were  groaning  with  the 
burden  of  thousands  of  innocents.     "  Suspect "  was  a  terrify 
ing  word  throughout  the  whole  Island.     Every  town,  village 
and   city,  from   one  end  of  the  country  to  the  other,  was  witnessing 
scenes  that  were  heart-rending  in  their  cruelty,  but  upon  which  it 
was  impossible  to  look  with  anything  except  hopeless  pity. 

Men  who  had  escaped  were  helpless  to  aid  the  victims,  and  to 
morrow  they  might  be  in  chains  in  the  same  cell.  It  required  only 
an  anonymous  letter  of  denunciation  addressed  to  the  Spanish  com 
mander  of  the  forces  garrisoned  in  the  town  or  at  the  nearest  post. 
It  might  have  been  written  by  a  debtor,  an  enemy,  a  spy  whose  ser 
vices  were  valuable  according  to  the  number  of  his  prey,  or  by  some 
one  whose  designs  might  be  furthered  by  removing  the  protection 
of  women;  but  it  needed  only  to  be  written,  and  a  guard  of  soldiers 
were  at  hand,  taking  a  man  out  of  his  bed  at  midnight,  or  from  his 
table  or  his  office,  whence  he  was  dragged  to  a  military  prison,  chained 
into  a  gang  of  victims  like  himself,  deprived  of  communication  with 
any  one,  and,  after  a  few  days,  a  case  having  been  manufactured 
against  him,  he  was  sent  to  Havana  and  thence  to  Africa,  to  spend 
in  a  living  grave  the  brief  period  that  he  could  survive  the  notorious 
horrors  of  the  penal  colony  at  Ceuta. 

The  extent  to  which  this  thing  was  being  carried  is  almost  incredi 
ble.  There  was  no  respect  of  persons,  unless  it  was  that  the  best 
men  of  the  towns  were  a  majority  of  the  victims.  To  be  simply  a 
^'suspect"  meant,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  conviction  and  sentence 
to  death  or  life  servitude.  In  one  instance  twenty  men  were  released 
just  as  they  were  about  to  be  put  aboard  the  steamer  for  deportation, 
because  it  had  been  discovered  that  the  author  of  their  "  denuncia- 
114 


IMPRISONMENTS   AND   MASSACRES.  115 

mento  "  was  a  sixteen-year-old  boy,  who  had  written  an  anonymous 
letter,  probably  inspired  by  the  similarity  between  their  names  and 
those  of  some  insurgent  leaders.  And  these  men  were  all  merchants 
and  otherwise  prominent  citizens  of  Santiago.  Not  a  day  passed 
without  several  companies  of  these  prisoners  reaching  Havana. 

Crowded  Dungeons. 

Morro  Castle  was  overcrowded.  There,  in  the  dungeons  which 
have  accumulated  the  poisons  of  three  centuries,  the  poor  wretches 
were  crowded  like  sheep  in  slaughter-pens — ten,  fifteen  or  twenty 
being  crowded  into  a  single  cell,  where  the  only  light  or  air  reaching 
them  was  through  a  grating  which  was  not  more  than  six  inches 
high  from  the  floor.  Unless  some  one  could  bribe  a  guard  to  give  a 
blanket  to  a  prisoner,  the  man  was  left  to  make  the  best  that  he 
could  of  bare  stones. 

An  American  correspondent  who  was  in  Morro  but  two  days  con 
tracted  a  fever,  although  he  was  treated  with  exceptional  considera 
tion,  as  exceptions  go  in  Morro.  But  the  herd,  the  natives  who  were 
being  taken  away  in  this  manner  in  greater  numbers  than  the  armies 
lose  in  battles,  the  suspects  to  whom  conviction  had  come  without 
what  Americans  would  recognize  as  a  trial,  these  were  mercilessly, 
inhumanly  treated.  In  Jaruco,  Maceo,  in  raiding  the  town,  forced 
the  prison  gates,  and  liberated  thirty  prisoners,  who  represented  some 
of  the  best  families  of  the  surrounding  country.  In  Cienfuegos  there 
were  over  fifty  "  suspects"  held  as  political  prisoners. 

In  Matanzas  there  were  at  one  time  eighty  such  men,  and  some  of 
them  were  afterward  brought  to  Havana.  From  Pinar  del  Rio,  Santa 
Clara,  Santiago,  Candelaria,  Marianao  and  numerous  other  places,  the 
same  reports  were  coming.  There  was  hardly  an  hour  of  the  day 
that  women  were  not  besieging  the  gates  of  the  Palace  with  petitions. 
It  was  a  wife  pleading  for  husband,  or  mother  for  son,  or  children  for 
father,  but  it  was  always  the  same  plea,  not  for  trial,  nor  to  offer  evi 
dence  of  their  innocence,  but  for  mercy,  always  for  mercy. 

There  seemed  to  be  a  blind  conviction  that  there  were  no  such 
things  as  trials  or  evidence,  and  no  ground  for  hope  in  either  of  the 


116  IMPRISONMENTS   AND   MASSACRES. 

shadowy  forms  that  represent  them.  These  wretched  women  reached 
the  city,  perhaps  having  walked  for  days,  or  may  be  they  had  horses 
or  found  some  conveyance,  but  in  any  way  they  nearly  all  made  a 
wearisome  journey,  having  left  all  their  worldly  possessions  or  sold 
them  to  get  means  for  reaching  the  city,  since  there  were  no  railroad 
trains  left  to  carry  them. 

Haggard  and  Frightened. 

They  were  hollow-eyed,  haggard  and  frightened,  but  in  desperate 
earnest.  They  stood  outside  the  gates  or  in  the  corridors  of  the 
Palace  for  hours.  They  made  no  scenes,  as  might  be  expected.  They 
simply  waited,  waited,  waited ;  put  off  on  one  pretext  after  another, 
hour  after  hour,  till  the  day  had  passed.  Another  day  and  another, 
they  were  there,  patient  and  waiting  and  pleading,  but  to  no  pur 
pose.  Some  morning  a  familiar  face  in  the  crowd  would  be  missing, 
and  that  day  she  might  be  seen  with  others  down  at  the  shore,  watch 
ing  the  small  boats  loading  with  prisoners  and  going  out  to  the  great 
steamers  about  to  leave  with  convicts  for  Africa.  Possibly  there  was 
one  last  look,  but  no  embrace  or  word  of  farewell.  After  that  she  was 
seen  no  more  at  the  Palace. 

It  happened  one  day  that  one  of  these  prisoners  slipped  off  the 
steps  while  getting  into  the  boat  with  the  others  and  fell  into  the  water. 
His  arms  were  pinioned  behind  him  and  he  was  helpless,  but  he 
managed  to  struggle  to  the  surface.  As  he  raised  his  head  none  of 
the  guard  reached  out  to  save  him.  The  other  prisoners  were  also 
pinioned  and  could  not.  He  floated  for  a  few  seconds  at  the  side  of 
the  boat,  and  then  one  of  the  soldiers  pointed  his  rifle  down  into  the 
man's  face  and  shot  him  through  the  head.  It  was  simply  a  murder. 
Nothing  was  done  about  it  excepting  to  report  that  he  was  "  shot 
while  attempting  to  escape." 

On  Feb.  22nd  there  was  a  brutal  massacre  at  Guatao,  and  the  poor 
wretches  made  prisoners  at  the  time  were  still  confined  in  Morro 
Castle,  while  the  government  was  investigating  the  slaughter  of  the 
eighteen  citizens.  There  was  no  battle  in  or  near  Guatao  at  the  time 
these  prisoners  were  made,  and  that  is  the  other  side  of  the  story  of 


IMPRISONMENTS  AND   MASSACRES.  117 

Spain's  prisoners  of  war.  There  were  no  prisoners  made  in  battles. 
They  were  suspects,  or,  like  the  Guatao  people,  escaped  from 
massacre.  Official  reports  of  engagements  almost  never  made  men 
tion  of  a  prisoner  taken.  Of  twenty  encounters  reported  not  one 
return  of  a  captive  was  recorded.  It  was  always,  "  The  enemy  left 
five  dead  on  the  field,"  or  some  other  number.  It  may  be  that  the 
Cubans  were  skillful  enough  to  avoid  capture,  but  it  was  very  common 
to  have  reports  of  captured  Spanish  soldiers. 

No  Spanish  soldiers  were  ever  "  left  dead  on  the  field,"  but  it  was 
admitted  by  the  Spanish  generally,  and  it  occasionally  crept  into  a 
report,  that  Spanish  prisoners  had  simply  been  stripped  of  arms  and 
let  go  unmolested  out  of  the  rebel  camp. 

High-sounding  Proclamation. 

But  General  Weyler  had  seen  the  enormity  of  the  abuses  which 
brutal  and  ambitious  officers  had  been  guilty  of,  and  went  so  far  as 
to  issue  a  proclamation  against  such  wholesale  arrests  as  followed  his 
first  decree.  On  March  6th  he  gave  out  the  following  notice : 

"  My  attention  has  been  called  to  the  frequency  with  which  civil 
and  military  authorities  and  commanders  of  forces  in  the  country 
and  towns  are  proceeding  to  detain  civilians,  who  are  afterward 
placed  at  my  disposal  to  be  deported  from  the  Island,  without  the 
said  commanders  duly  justifying  the  foundation  which  counseled 
such  determination." 

That  was  the  Spanish  way  of  saying  that  arrests  had  not  been 
made  upon  official  evidence.  Then  General  Weyler  urged  that 
citizens  who  write  anonymous  letters  should  sign  their  names  and 
testify  freely,  knowing  that  they  would  receive  ample  protection,  and 
closed  his  decree  with  this  warning : 

"  I  will  exact  most  strict  responsibility  from  commanders  who  pro 
pose  to  me  matters  of  this  sort  without  accompanying  them  v/'th  the 
elements  of  justification  already  expressed." 

General  Weyler  would  not  personally  assume  the  responsibility  of 
any  man's  execution  or  banishment  without  clear  evidence  of  his 
guilt.  It  would  not  be  possible  to  find  a  man  who  would  more  merci- 


118  IMPRISONMENTS  AND    MASSACRES. 

lessly  execute  the  penalty  of  the  law  than  Gen.  Weyler,  but  he  was 
honest.  If  he  had  had  men  in  the  field  whose  motives  could  have 
been  trusted,  innocent  men's  lives  might  have  been  safer  than  they 
were;  but  take  such  brutes  as  murdered  sick  men  and  beat  women 
into  insensibility  at  Guatao,  who  referred  to  their  bloody  work  in  a 
report  saying  :  "  Glory  and  infinite  applause  to  our  valiant  men ; 
worthy  of  all  praise  is  the  comportment  of  this  column  ;  all  merit 
the  consideration  of  your  Excellency ;  their  efforts  made  exceed  all 
praise,"  and  arm  the  leader  of  such  a  mob  of  assassins  with  a  decree 
making  men  enemies  who  sympathize  "  in  thought,  word  or  action  " 
with  the  insurgents,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  even  the  iron  hand  of 
General  Weyler  could  hold  them  in  check. 

Shot  for  Raising  a  Flag. 

A  Frenchman  was  raising  a  French  flag  on  his  estate  when  a 
Spanish  column  came  up,  shot  him  dead,  captured  the  flag  and  made 
off  with  it.  This  is  another  instance  of  Gen.  Weyler's  difficulty  in 
controlling  the  irresponsibles,  who  made  prisoners  of  "  suspects," 
killed  innocent  people  or  committed  other  outrages,  and  left  it  to  the 
government  to  square  the  matter.  These  were  not  isolated  in 
stances,  but  daily  occurrences  in  all  parts  of  the  Island.  The  shoot 
ing  of  this  French  citizen  occurred  at  the  Olayita  estate,  near  San 
Domingo.  The  Cuban  commanders,  Quintin  Bandera,  Guerra  and 
Seraphim  Sanchez  were  near  the  town,  and  passed  so  close  that  they 
were  observed  to  have  about  1,000  cavalry. 

They  were  going  in  the  direction  of  the  Olayita  plantation. 
Lieut-Col.  Arce  and  Major  Rogelio  Anino,  with  450  men,  followed 
them,  leaving  Guines.  An  encounter  took  place  in  a  strip  of  woods 
on  the  edge  of  the  estate,  but  it  amounted  to  little.  The  insurgents 
had  not  enough  ammunition  to  give  battle,  and  the  Spanish  could  do 
nothing  but  worry  them  with  so  continuous  a  fire  with  Mausers  from 
a  distance.  The  insurgents  replied  with  a  few  shots,  and  then  broke 
into  two  detachments  and  left  the  woods,  one  force  taking  possession 
of  the  battery,  and  standing  off  the  Spanish  for  two  hours.  There 
was  a  hot  fight  at  this  point. 


IMPRISONMENTS   AND    MASSACRES. 

The  insurgents  had  a  sheltered  position  in  the  buildings,  and 
nursed  their  precious  supply  of  cartridges  until  they  were  where 
their  only  alternatives  were  to  retreat  or  to  suffer  a  heavy  loss  of  life 
if  they  remained  till  the  Spanish  could  get  in  upon  them.  Then  the 
order  was  given  and  they  rode  out,  setting  fire  to  the  cane  field  over 
which  they  passed  in  order  to  make  it  impossible  for  the  Spanish  to 
follow  them  through  the  smoke  and  flames.  When  they  left,  the 
manager  of  the  estate,  Bernardo  Duarte,  ran  out  of  the  house  with  a 
French  flag  and  was  about  to  raise  it,  when  he  was  shot  dead. 

Curious  Spanish  Reports. 

A  Spanish  officer  took  the  flag  and  carried  it  away.  Duarte's 
body  was  left  where  he  fell.  He  had  taken  no  part  in  the  fight. 
When  the  fight  was  going  on  Duarte  was  in  the  great  stone  house 
which  was  the  owner's  residence.  The  heavy  walls  were  ample  pro 
tection,  and  with  all  the  inmates  he  was  apparently  safe,  for  he  came 
out  when  the  insurgents  left  to  exhibit  the  sign  of  his  neutrality. 
Here  a  curious  thing  was  revealed  by  the  Spanish  report  of  the 
engagement,  which  said  briefly,  "  We  found  also  a  woman  and  the 
seven  farm  hands  dead." 

There  were  really  thirteen  dead.  The  bodies  were  buried  by 
workmen  from  an  adjoining  plantation.  There  was  no  one  left  to 
tell  whether  they  were  killed  by  the  Spanish  or  the  rebels.  Even 
the  Frenchman,  Duarte,  was  shot  with  his  flag  in  his  hands,  and  the 
Spanish  admitted  killing  him. 

The  hundreds  of  refugees  coming  into  Havana  declared  that  the 
Spanish  were  shooting  the  men  who  were  on  any  estate  where  they 
could  find  that  a  rebel  band  was  camped.  Several  owners  of  large 
estates  within  this  province  and  Matanzas  stated  that  this  was  un 
doubtedly  true,  and  that  some  of  their  own  men,  who  worked  for 
them,  had  'disappeared  after  a  fight  had  been  reported  near  their 
properties.  Others  deserted  the  places  and  came  into  the  city,  refu 
sing  to  remain  on  account  of  the  killing  of  people  near  them  who 
were  likewise  caring  for  abandoned  propertiesc 

On  March  5  Gen,  Melquizo  went  out  from  Jaruco  with  two  battal- 


120  IMPRISONMENTS   AND    MASSACRES. 

ions  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  and  found  some  of  Maceo's  forces  at  the 
sugar  estate  Morales,  near  Casiguas,  between  Bainoa  and  Guines. 
The  estate  was  occupied  by  a  man  named  Jose  Gregoria  Delgado, 
said  to  be  an  American.  His  son,  Jose  Manuel  Delgado,  a  doctor, 
was  with  him  at  the  time  the  insurgents  and  Spanish  came  together. 
As  usual,  the  insurgents  made  a  stand  in  the  buildings,  because  they 
afford  excellent  defense.  Gen.  Melquizo  reported  after  the  battle  or 
skirmish,  or  whatever  did  actually  occur,  that  "  we  found  eighteen 
dead  on  the  field." 

It  has  developed  since  that  fourteen  of  these  dead  men  were  the 
owner,  Delgado,  his  son  and  their  twelve  workmen.  Not  a  man  was 
left  alive  on  the  estate.  If  this  did  not  seem  on  its  face  to  bear  con 
siderable  evidence  of  a  deliberate  killing  of  these  men,  such  an  act 
would  seem  to  be  probable  when  the  Spanish  loss  is  mentioned, 
The  Spanish  official  report  said  of  this  engagement  that  the  Spanish 
had  only  two  men  wounded,  none  being  killed. 

No  One  Left  Alive. 

If  the  Spanish,  entirely  exposed,  charged  upon  the  insurgents,  who 
were  occupying  protected  positions  in  stone-walled  buildings,  and 
succeeded  in  dislodging  them,  and  did  so  with  no  loss  whatevei 
there  seems  to  be  some  reason  for  doubting  that  the  fighting  was 
severe  enough  to  cause  eighteen  dead  to  the  insurgents  in  actual  combat. 
There  was  no  one  left  on  this  estate  alive,  nor  was  there  any  one  else 
from  whom  it  would  be  possible  to  learn  just  what  did  occur,  or  why 
it  was  that  not  one  man  on  the  whole  estate  escaped  death. 

Not  one  of  them  was  wounded.  They  were  all  lying  there  dead 
when  people  from  the  surrounding  country  went  there  and  identified 
the  bodies.  It  is  a  suspicious  circumstance  that  they  were  not  shot, 
but  all  were  cut  to  pieces  with  swords. 

It  is  easy  to  understand  the  alarm  that  spread  over  the  whole 
Island  as  the  consequence  of  such  things  as  these.  The  stories  of 
the  refugees  who  were  fleeing  from  every  quarter  into  the  cities,  and 
chiefly  into  Havana,  gave  a  dozen  such  instances.  They  were  not 
tales  of  frightened  negroes.  Neither  were  they  coffee-house  fabrica- 


IMPRISONMENTS  AND   MASSACRES. 

tions  of  Cubans.  A  bookful  of  these  tales  could  be  collected.  It 
was  the  men  who  had  estates  of  their  own,  whose  losses  in  one  year 
alone  amounted  to  anywhere  from  $50,000  to  $200,000,  who  held  on 
and  exhausted  every  resource  to  save  themselves  and  their  properties, 
but  who  were  compelled  at  last  to  give  up  and  let  everything  go. 

They  were  not  men  who  pack  up  what  few  valuables  they  can 
cany  away  and  then  bring  their  families  and  servants  long  distances 
across  the  country  to  Havana,  just  for  the  pastime  or  amusement  of 
lying  about  their  reasons  for  coming.  Where  alarm  had  not  driven 
out  the  poorer  classes,  destitution  had  done  so.  Forty-two  cities  and 
towns  had  already  been  burned  and  destroyed. 

Great  Scarcity  of  Provisions. 

This  does  not  indicate  the  homes  of  hundreds  of  others  which 
have  gone  up  in  the  flames  of  burning  sugar  estates.  After  the 
armies  of  both  Spanish  and  insurgents  consumed  all  the  fruit  and 
vegetables,  and  the  railroads  ceased  carrying  freight,  food  was  almost 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  poor.  Great  was  the  suffering  in  conse 
quence  of  the  scarcity  of  provisions,  but  a  new  system  was  put  in 
operation  which  deprived  even  those  who  had  a  few  dollars  left  from 
buying  what  they  needed  unless  they  stood  in  favor  of  the  Spanish 
commanders  of  towns.  This  was  a  hard  matter  for  people  in  a 
country  where  everybody  was  an  insurgent,  or  of  a  family  with  repre 
sentatives  in  the  insurgent  army. 

If  a  man  went  to  a  store  in  any  town  outside  of  Havana  he  was 
compelled  first  to  make  out  a  statement  of  what  he  wished  to  pur 
chase.  He  was  limited  to  two  cents'  worth  of  salt,  five  cents'  worth 
of  flour,  one  pound  of  meat,  one  pound  of  rice  and  five  cents'  worth 
of  coffee,  and  so  on ;  but  he  was  not  permitted  to  buy  oil,  candles, 
medicines,  or  a  multitude  of  other  things.  After  the  list  was  com 
pleted,  the  storekeeper  and  the  customer  had  to  appear  before  the 
Mayor  of  the  town  and  swear  that  the  articles  were  for  the  consump 
tion  of  the  purchaser,  and  not  for  the  aid  and  comfort  of  any  in 
surgent  or  sympathizer  with  the  insurrection. 

When  this  was  done  the  whole  formality  cleared  the  way  for  the 


122  IMPRISONMENTS   AND    MASSACRES. 

purchase  of  about  one  scanty  meal  for  four  persons.  This,  with  the 
apprehension  of  suspects,  was  driving  the  country  people  out  of  their 
homes  until  whole  districts  were  depopulated.  Paso  Real,  Mantua, 
Baja,  Guane,  Tapaste,  San  Cristobal,  and,  in  fact,  nearly  all  the  towns 
of  Pinar  del  Rio  Province,  were  admitted  by  the  Spanish  reports  to 
be  practically  deserted. 

In  Havana  and  Matanzas  provinces  the  same  state  of  affairs  ex 
isted.  One  man  who  passed  through  Guatao  and  Punta  Brava  said  that 
where  there  had  been  2,200  people  all  together  a  month  before,  less 
than  100  remained.  Women  came  out  and  begged  that  he  would 
give  them  food.  They  were  crying,  he  said,  and  pleaded  for  relief  to 
be  sent  out  to  them.  There  were  a  few  children  left  in  the  places,  and 
the  desolation  he  described  was  something  pitiful.  The  widows 
made  by  the  massacre  were  chiefly  those  who  remained.  When  asked 
why  they  did  not  get  away,  and  so  possibly  find  a  place  where  they 
could  get  some  relief,  they  replied  that  they  could  not  make  the 
journey. 

Not  a  Rebel  in  the  Place. 

The  government  was  investigating  the  massacre,  and  the  method 
of  the  investigation  indicated  that  a  denial  was  in  course  of  prepara 
tion.  Here  is  a  significant  fact.  The  "  Diario  de  la  Marina,"  the 
government's  most  staunch  supporter,  published  an  item  which  said, 
"  The  Mayor  of  Guatao  swears  and  forswears  to  Captain  Calvo  that 
at  the  time  of  the  events  in  Guatao  not  a  solitary  rebel  was  in  the 
place.  Two  days  after  the  event  this  Mayor  again  met  Calvo,  who 
asked  him  if  he  had  seen  any  insurgents  there.  He  replied  he  had 
not.  Notwithstanding,  five  minutes  afterward  Captain  Calvo  saw  a 
group  of  eight  men  mounted,  who  ran  away." 

This  was  clearly  to  discredit  the  Mayor  of  Guatao.  He  confirmed 
the  story  of  all  the  citizens,  and  swore  that  no  insurgents  were  in  the 
town  when  the  massacre  occurred.  It  also  indicated  that  Captain 
Calvo,  who  was  in  command  of  the  troops  who  committed  the  mas 
sacre,  was  conducting  the  investigation. 

It  would  not  be  in  keeping  with  the  way  all  this  was  being  done  if 
the  "  Diario's  "  vStory  were  not  declared  by  somebody  to  be  untrue. 


IMPRISONMENTS  AND  MASSACRES.  123 

The  gentleman  above  referred  to  was  in  Guatao  at  the  time  Captain 
Calvo  was  talking  with  the  Mayor.  He  describes  what  occurred 
this  way : 

"  I  saw  they  were  holding  an  excited  debate  about  something,  so 
I  held  up  my  driver  till  it  was  over.  Then  I  talked  to  the  Alcalde, 
and  asked  what  occasioned  all  the  fireworks  between  himself  and  the 
officer.  He  replied,  '  I  have  just  been  asked  about  the  rebels.  I  said 
I  had  seen  four ;  he  tells  me,  "  You  lie,  you  have  seen  a  hundred.'" 
I  have  only  seen  four,  and  they  are  down  that  road  now.'  " 

Charges  Proved  Untrue. 

If  the  Mayor  told  the  story  just  as  it  had  occurred  between  him 
self  and  the  officer  a  moment  before,  the  account  of  it  in  the  news 
paper  was  an  apparent  attempt  to  clear  the  way  for  almost  any  sort 
of  a  report  on  the  massacre.  It  would  be  easier  after  proving  the 
chief  witness  unreliable  to  dispose  of  the  stories  of  the  women  as 
attempts  to  shield  their  husbands.  The  government  also  took  the 
ground  that  the  insurgents  were  concealed  in  the  church.  This  made 
it  necessary  to  abandon  the  original  charge  that  they  were  in  the 
little  thatched  houses. 

The  authorities  of  Guatao  opened  the  church  and  showed  the 
officers,  who  went  there  to  inspect  it,  that  no  horses  or  men  could 
possibly  have  gotten  into  it.  When  this  inspection  was  finished,  the 
keeper  of  the  church  handed  over  the  key,  and  the  Mayor  joined 
him  in  beseeching  the  Spanish  officers  to  carry  it  away,  so  that  what 
ever  might  happen  again  they  would  be  relieved  of  the  responsibility 
for  keeping  the  structure  free  from  invasion. 

Ten  more  prisoners  were  taken  at  the  time  this  investigation,  as  it 
is  called,  was  going  on.  A  Spanish  column  came  into  Punta  Brava 
from  the  east.  At  the  same  moment  another  came  into  the  place 
irom  the  west.  The  second  one  picked  up  ten  men  working  in 
tobacco  fields  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town.  A  storekeeper,  recog 
nizing  them,  went  up  to  the  lieutenant  commanding,  and  said  that 
the  arrests  were  unjust,  as  the  men  were  "  pacificados,"  or  peaceful 
citizens. 


124 


IMPRISONMENTS  AND  MASSACRES.  125 

Then  the  lieutenant  arrested  the  storekeeper.  The  two  columns 
were  at  opposite  ends  of  the  main  street,  their  officers  disputing  as 
to  which  was  properly  in  possession  of  the  place,  as  their  orders  were 
slightly  conflicting,  when  a  third  column  arrived  with  a  captain  in 
charge.  He  settled  the  difficulty  by  occupying  the  town  himself, 
and  after  learning  of  the  arrest  of  the  ten  tobacco-workers  he  liber 
ated  them  all. 

Heavy  Guard  of  Soldiers. 

The  demonstrations  against  Americans  in  Havana  were  confined  to 
individual  encounters,  where  there  were  no  serious  results.  A  heavy 
guard  of  soldiers  was  quartered  in  a  building  near  the  Consul's 
office,  and  the  patrolling  of  the  streets  was  kept  up  with  vigilance 
day  and  night.  Where  more  than  four  men  got  together  a  soldier 
was  at  hand  to  scatter  them.  In  the  Plaza,  when  the  military  was 
playing,  the  crowds  were  constantly  kept  moving.  An  effort  to  get 
up  a  students'  demonstration  fell  flat,  because  a  majority  of  the 
students  were  in  sympathy  with  the  Americans. 

There  never  was  a  time  when  the  students  were  to  be  feared,  on 
that  account.  The  source  of  danger  was  the  volunteers.  A  corre 
spondent  relates  that  he  was  talking  with  a  hotel  waiter  after  he  had 
been  away  for  a  day.  He  said  he  was  out  doing  duty  as  a  volun 
teer.  He  was  a  little  sawed-off  ignoramus,  and  the  correspondent 
was  curious  enough  to  ask  him  how  his  companions  felt  toward 
Uncle  Sam. 

"  Muera  Senor  Sam,"  he  hissed,  bringing  his  fist  down  with  a 
whack  on  the  table. 

"  Death  to  Mr.  Sam  ?"  I  repeated.     "  Why  so  ?" 

"  He  is  going  to  help  the  insurrectors.  We'll  have  to  kill  them 
all." 

u  But  I'm  an  American  ;  would  you  kill  me,  too  ?" 

He  seemed  to  be  confronted  by  a  situation  for  a  moment  only, 
when  he  said,  sadly  but  earnestly : 

"  I  am  your  friend,  Senor,  but  I  should  have  to  kill  you." 

At  that  moment  another  Spaniard  came  up.  "  Senor,  allow  me  to 
present  my  friend .  As  I  was  just  telling  this  American  gentle- 


126  IMPRISONMENTS  AND   MASSACRES. 

man,  Spain  will  find  every  loyal  son  shoulder  to  shoulder,  fighting 
till  the  last  drop  of  blood  is  shed  to  avenge  such  an  insult  to  our 
national  honor  as  this  uncalled-for  interference  of  America." 

This  is  not  half-hearted  hypocrisy.  It  is  the  way  men  talk  who 
have  been  ruined  by  the  collapse  of  every  kind  of  business  in  the 
Island,  and  who  want  peace  and  prosperity  restored  at  any  cost. 
They  are  Spaniards,  but  they  have  been  so  long  in  commercial  inter 
course  with  the  United  States  that  their  sentimental  attachment  to 
the  theory  of  Spain's  right  to  Cuba  has  been  blunted  by  a  period  of 
successful  business.  All  Cuba's  enterprises  are  practically  insepara 
ble  from  the  States,  while  Spain  stands  by  as  a  third  party,  consum 
ing  half  the  profits  that  would  naturally  accrue  to  the  other  two.  At 
such  a  price  sentiment  comes  too  high  to  maintain  a  secure  position 
among  hard-headed  merchants. 

The  Cienfuegos  houses  resolved  to  boycott  the  United  States,  and 
proposed  to  do  so  by  cancelling  all  their  purchasing  orders  and  refu 
sing  to  sell  to  American  buyers.  This  was  considerable  of  a  joke  in 
its  way.  They  would  have  to  buy  from  Havana  instead,  and  Havana 
would  continue  to  buy  direct  from  the  States  until  war  or  something 
as  serious  should  prevent.  The  merchants  at  Havana  held  a  meeting 
to  discuss  retaliation  of  the  same  sort,  but  when  it  was  pointed  out 
to  them  that  American  houses  would  merely  send  out  their  own 
agents  to  sell  their  products  they  saw  the  danger  ahead  and  con 
tented  themselves  with  resolutions  praising  the  Cienfuegos  merchants. 
They  could  afford  to  do  that,  as  their  commissions  were  being  helped 
by  the  necessity  of  Cienfuegos  buying  here. 

Two  nephews  of  the  Queen,  the  Princes  of  Caserta,  were  in  an 
engagement  in  Sagua  on  March  3.  The  insurgents  were  led  by 
Serafin  Sanchez,  Nunez  and  Alvarez.  All  that  has  ever  been  printed 
about  the  fight  here  was  contained  in  a  ten-line  item,  in  which  the 
insurgents  lost  thirty  dead  and  forty  wounded.  The  Queen  cabled 
congratulations  to  General  Weyler  upon  the  glorious  victory,  and 
yesterday  the  insurgent  loss  was  changed  to  read  "  60  dead  and 
1 50  wounded."  It  is  impossible  to  learn  anything  else  here  about 
the  battle. 


CHAPTER  XI 
Freedom  for  Cuba. 

THE  sympathy  in  Congress  for  the  cause  of  Cuba  received 
formal  expression  on  February  28th.  On  that  date  the  meet 
ing  of  the  Senate  Committee  on  Foreign  Relations  resulted 
in  action  of  a  more  vigorous  character  than  the  most  ardent  friend  of 
the  cause  of  Cuba  was  justified  in  expecting.  The  committee  de 
cided,  after  some  debate,  that  it  would  not  accept  the  wording  of  a 
resolution  already  adopted  by  the  House  Committee,  but  would 
cling  to  one  of  its  own,  which  was  looked  upon  as  even  stronger  than 
any  yet  seriously  considered — stronger  because  the  committee  capit 
ulated  to  the  sentiment  represented  in  the  resolution  of  Mr.  Cameron 
declaring  for  the  independence  of  the  Cuban  Republic. 

It  was  agreed  that  when  the  question  reached  the  voting  stage  Mr. 
Sherman,  for  the  commiteee,  was  to  recommend  and  urge  the  passage 
of  the  following,  which  was  the  language  of  the  substitute  reported 
by  Mr.  Morgan  : 

"  Resolved,  by  the  Senate  (the  House  of  Representatives  concur 
ring),  That,  in  the  opinion  of  Congress,  a  condition  of  public  war 
exists  between  the  government  of  Spain  and  the  government  pro 
claimed  and  for  some  time  maintained  by  force  of  arms  by  the  peo 
ple  of  Cuba  ;  and  that  the  United  States  of  America  should  maintain 
a  strict  neutrality  between  the  contending  powers,  according  to  each 
all  the  rights  of  belligerents  in  the  ports  and  territory  of  the  United 
States/' 

As  the  day  wore  on  in  the  Senate  the  crowds  in  the  galleries  and 
on  the  floor  increased.  The  diplomatic  gallery,'  for  once,  was  well 
filled.  Nearly  every  member  of  the  House  Foreign  Affairs  Commit 
tee  was  on  the  Senate  floor,  and  they  listened  to  the  speeches  with 
the  greatest  interest. 

127 


128  FREEDOM   FOR   CUBA. 

Mr.  Lindsay,  of  Kentucky,  addressed  the  Senate.  He  did  not 
think  that,  in  the  present  emergency,  the  subject  ought  to  be  con 
trolled,  in  any  way,  by  the  past  conduct  of  Spain  to  the  United 
States.  It  was,  in  one  sense,  a  question  of  humanity.  War  was 
being  carried  on  at  the  very  doors  of  the  United  States  between  the 
people  of  Cuba  and  the  Spanish  Government,  and  it  would  result 
either  in  the  independence  of  Cuba  or  in  the  utter  destruction  of  hei 
people. 

Sympathy  for  Cuban  People. 

Expressions  of  sympathy  would  avail  nothing  to  the  Cuban  insur 
rectionists.  If  the  United  States  intended  to  take  any  step  to  bring 
about  a  condition  of  affairs  in  Cuba  different  from  that  which  had 
existed  during  the  last  seventy  years,  that  step  should  be  in  the 
direction  of  the  ultimate  independence  of  Cuba. 

It  might  be  true — it  was  true — that  affairs  had  not  yet  reached  a 
point  that  would  justify  the  United  States  in  acknowledging  the  inde 
pendence  of  Cuba.  There  was  a  state  of  things  in  Cuba  that  would 
justify  the  Government  of  the  United  States  in  considering  a  proposi 
tion  for  active  interference  in  the  struggle,  for  the  reason  that  it 
seemed  highly  probable  that,  without  such  interference,  either  public 
order  could  never  be  restored  in  Cuba,  or  could  only  be  restored 
after  such  suffering  by  humanity  and  such  injuries  to  surrounding 
States,  as  would  obviously  overbalance  the  general  evil  of  all  inter 
ference  from  without.  But  the  pending  resolution  proposed  no  such 
active  interference.  It  proposed  only  that  the  good  offices  of  the 
United  States  should  be  offered  to  Spain  to  bring  about,  not  merely 
a  cessation  of  hostilities,  but  an  ultimate  peace  on  the  basis  of  Cuban 
independence — the  only  basis  on  which  good  government  could  ever 
be  secured  to  the  people  of  Cuba. 

Spain  owed  to  Cuba  as  much  as  Turkey  owed  to  Armenia,  ar 
much  as  the  United  States  owed  to  Venezuela.  If  Spain  did  not  pay 
the  obligations  resting  on  her,  and  if  her  necessities  prevented  her 
doing  so,  then  the  time  had  come  for  steps  to  be  initiated  ;  and  they 
could  be  properly  initiated  only  by  the  government  of  the  United 
States.  Overtures  should  be  made  to  Spain  for  the  sale  of  the 


FREEDOM    FOR   CUBA.  129 

Island  to  the  Cubans,  the  United  States  to  guarantee  the  payment  of 
the  sum  to  be  agreed  upon. 

Mr.  Sherman,  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Relations, 
addressed  the  Senate.  He  said  that  he  did  not  disguise  from  himself 
the  danger  and  possibility  of  hostile  movements  following  the  action 
of  Congress.  Spain  was  a  sensitive,  proud  and  gallant  nation,  and 
would  not  submit  to  what  she  considered  an  injustice.  At  the  same 
time,  his  convictions  were  strong — made  stronger  every  day — that 
the  condition  of  affairs  in  Cuba  was  such  that  the  intervention  of  the 
United  States  must  be  given,  sooner  or  later,  to  put  an  end  to  crimes 
almost  beyond  description. 

Called  a  Murderer  and  Criminal, 

He  quoted  from  a  pamphlet  written,  he  said,  in  a  temperate  style, 
to  show  what  the  Cubans  had  done  in  the  way  of  establishing  a  gov 
ernment  and  carrying  on  the  war,  and  containing  an  order  of  Gen. 
Maximo  Gomez,  as  to  the  humane  treatment  of  prisoners  that  might 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  insurgents.  And  yet,  he  said,  this  man 
Gomez  had  been  denounced  as  a  murderer  and  barbarous  criminal, 
like  the  one  he  would  speak  of  after  a  while — Capt.-Gen.  Weyler. 
Speaking  of  the  insurgent  Gen.  Gomez,  Mr.  Sherman  said  that  he 
was  a  man  of  standing  and  character — probably  an  idealist.  But  he 
ought  to  be,  and  would  probably  soon  be,  considered  a  patriot. 

Mr.  Sherman  went  on  to  say  that  he  was  not  in  favor  of  the 
annexation  of  Cuba  to  the  United  States.  He  did  not  desire  to  con 
quer  Cuba,  or  to  have  any  influence  in  her  local  autonomy.  In  his 
judgment  Cuba  should  be  attached  to  Mexico,  because  Cubans  and 
Mexicans  spoke  the  same  language,  had  the  same  origin,  the  same 
antecedents,  and  many  of  the  same  circumstances. 

Mr.  Sherman  sent  to  the  clerk's  desk,  and  had  read  extracts  from 
a  Spanish  book,  printed  in  a  New  York  newspaper,  reciting  horrible 
cruelties  charged  against  Weyler,  some  of  the  incidents  being  so  bad 
that  he  directed  the  clerk  to  omit  them.  He  spoke  of  these  deeds  as 
barbarous  atrocities,  and  as  inhuman  cruelties,  and  said  that  Weyler 
was  a  demon  rather  than  a  general. 
9 


130  FREEDOM   FOR   CUBA. 

He  denounced  the  idea  of  putting  such  a  man  in  command  of  a 
hundred  thousand  troops,  to  ride  rough-shod,  kill  and  slaughter  a 
feeble  body  of  people ;  and  he  declared  that  if  this  kind  of  policy  is 
pursued  by  Spain  in  Cuba,  and  if  the  people  of  the  United  States  be 
informed  of  it,  there  is  no  earthly  power  that  will  prevent  the  people 
of  the  United  States  from  going  over  to  that  Island,  running  all  over 
its  length  and  breadth,  and  driving  out  from  it  those  robbers  and  imi 
tators  of  the  worst  men  that  ever  lived  in  the  world. 

This  statement  was  greeted  by  an  outburst  of  applause  from  the 
crowded  galleries,  which  showed  the  intense  feeling  awakened  by  the 
discussion  of  the  subject  of  Cuban  independence. 

Belligerent  Rights. 

When  the  final  vote  on  Mr.  Sherman's  resolution  was  taken  in  the 
Senate  it  was  passed  by  a  large  majority,  but  there  was  an  evident 
desire  on  the  part  of  many  in  both  Houses  to  grant  belligerent  rights 
to  the  Cubans,  who  had  already  maintained  a  state  of  war  on  the 
Island  for  over  a  year.  Concerning  this  last  proposition  an  eminent 
New  York  jurist  expressed  the  following  opinion  : 

"The  mere  recognition  of  belligerent  rights  on  the  part  of  the 
Cubans  would  not  involve  us  in  any  complication  with  Spain. 
It  is  a  different  thing  from  recognizing  the  independence  of  the 
Cubans. 

"  The  recognition  of  belligerent  rights  is  merely  the  declaration  of 
our  opinion  that  the  insurgents  have  established  a  stable  government 
and  are  entitled  to  all  the  rights  of  war.  This  was  what  was  done  by 
Great  Britain  during  our  late  war. 

"  Such  a  recognition,  however,  would  not  relieve  the  United  States 
of  its  obligations  toward  Spain  in  the  way  of  preventing  the  sending 
out  of  privateers  or  filibustering  expeditions  in  aid  of  the  insurgents 
from  our  ports.  We  established  this  proposition  in  the 'Alabama' 
arbitration  against  Great  Britain. 

"  Furthermore,  such  recognition  of  a  state  of  war  between  Spain 
and  the  insurgents  in  Cuba  would  give  Spain  the  right  to  search  our 
merchant  vessels  for  goods  contraband  of  war.  This  is  the  only 


FREEDOM   FOR   CUBA.  131 

respect  in  which  our  relations  with  Spain  would  be  particularly  altered 
by  such  recognition,  as  far  as  I  can  see." 

"  What  would  be  our  relations  in  case  Congress  should  recognize 
the  independence  of  Cuba  ?  "  was  asked. 

' (  That  recognition  might  be  treated  by  Spain  as  an  unfriendly  act, 
although  I  should  hardly  think  that  Spain  would  so  regard  it.  It 
would  not  amount  to  a  declaration  on  our  part  that  we  proposed  to 
aid  Cuba  in  the  maintenance  of  its  independence,  and  hence  it  would 
not  necessarily  be  a  casus  belli  (cause  of  war)  as  between  us  and  Spain. 

"  Still  it  might  involve  us  in  serious  complications,  as  we  would  be 
bound  to  regard  the  insurgent  government  as  the  only  lawful  govern 
ment  in  the  Island  of  Cuba,  and  to  act  accordingly  and  to  disregard 
the  rights  of  Spain.  And  such  conduct  on  our  part  might  lead  to 
controversies  with  Spain  which  might  furnish  a  casus  belli.  I  do  not 
personally  believe,  however,  that  such  a  result  will  follow  in  any 

avent." 

Probability  of  Bloodshed. 

It  was  thought  by  many  in  Washington  that  if  the  Cuban  insurgents 
were  not  quickly  recognized  as  belligerents,  and  General  Weyler 
maintained  the  reputation  he  had  already  acquired,  it  was  not  stretch 
ing  speculation  too  far  to  assume  that  there  was  a  probabiltty  of  the 
bloody  scenes  of  1869  being  re-enacted,  when,  under  the  orders  of 
Gen.  Burriel,  American  citizens  were  put  to  death  in  Santiago  de  Cuba. 

The  Captain-General  of  Cuba  had  issued  a  decree  in  which  he  said 
that  all  vessels  which  might  be  captured  in  Spanish  waters,  and  which 
had  on  board  men  and  munitions,  and  whose  design  was  to  give  aid 
01  comfort  to  the  revolutionists,  should  be  regarded  as  pirates,  and 
that  all  on  board,  regardless  of  number,  should  be  immediately 
executed. 

Secretary  Fish,  then  Secretary  of  State,  made  a  protest  against  the 
butchery  of  the  Americans,  and  maintained  the  right  of  the  citizens 
of  the  United  States  to  carry  merchandise  to  the  enemies  of  Spain, 
except  such  articles  as  were  contraband  of  war,  and  which  might  be 
seized  upon  the  high  seas.  Secretary  Fish  said  the  government 
could  not  assent  to  the  punishment  by  Spain  of  any  citizen  of  this 


132  FREEDOM   FOR   CUBA. 

country,  except  under  the  -  laws  and  treaties  existing  between  Spain 
and  the  United  States. 

According  to  Halleck,  one  of  the  accepted  authorities  on  laws 
between  nations,  "  there  is  no  law  or  regulation  which  forbids  any 
person  or  government,  whether  the  political  designation  be  real  or 
assumed,  from  purchasing  arms  from  citizens  of  the  United  States 
and  shipping  them  at  the  risk  of  the  purchaser."  The  same  authority 
says  further :  "  Neutrals  may  establish  themselves  for  the  purposes 
of  trade  in  ports  convenient  to  either  belligerent,  and  may  sell  or 
transport  to  either  such  articles  as  they  may  wish  to  buy,  subject  to 
risks  of  capture  for  violation  of  blockade  or  for  the  conveyance  of 
contraband  to  belligerent  ports." 

Exceptions  to  the  Rule. 

"  A  belligerent  cannot  send  out  privateers  from  neutral  ports. 
Neutrals  in  their  own  country  may  sell  to  belligerents  whatever 
belligerents  choose  to  buy.  The  principal  exceptions  to  this  rule  are 
that  neutrals  must  not  sell  to  one  belligerent  what  they  refuse  to  sell 
to  another,  and  must  not  furnish  soldiers  or  sailors  to  either,  nor  pre 
pare  nor  suffer  to  be  prepared  within  their  territory  armed  ships  or 
military  or  naval  expeditions  against  the  other." 

The  position  in  which  the  United  States  would  be  placed  by  the 
recognition  of  the  belligerency  of  the  Cubans  is  clearly  and  tersely 
expressed  by  Justice  Harlan,  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  in  an  opinion  in  the  case  of  Ford  vs.  Surget.  It  is  based  on  a 
careful  and  exhaustive  study  of  the  comity  of  nations,  and  the  parts 
that  appear  applicable  to  the  present  situation  are  as  follows  : 

"  If  the  foreign  State  recognizes  belligerency  in  the  insurgents  it 
releases  the  parent  State  for  whatever  may  be  done  by  the  insurgents, 
or  not  done  by  the  parent  State,  where  the  insurgent  power  extends. 

"  If  it  is  a  war,  the  commissioned  cruisers  of  both  sides  may  stop, 
search  and  capture  the  foreign  merchant  vessel,  and  that  vessel  must 
make  no  resistance  and  must  submit  to  adjudication  by  a  prize  court;. 
if  it  is  not  war,  the  cruisers  of  neither  party  can  stop  or  search  the 
foreign  merchant  vessel,  and  that  vessel  may  resist  all  attempts  in 


FREEDOM    FOR   CUBA.  133 

that  direction,  and  the  ships  of  war  of  the  foreign  State  may  attack 
and  capture  any  cruiser  persisting  in  the  attempt ;  if  it  is  war,  the 
insurgent  cruisers  are  to  be  treated  by  foreign  citizens  and  officials, 
at  sea  and  in  port,  as  lawful  belligerents ;  if  it  is  a  war,  the  rules  and 
risks  respecting  carrying  contraband  or  dispatches  or  military  persons, 
come  into  play. 

"  The  insurgents  gain  the  great  advantage  of  a  recognized  status 
(when  belligerent  rights  are  accorded),  and  the  opportunity  to  employ 
commissioned  cruisers  at  sea,  and  to  exert  all  the  powers  known  to 
maritime  warfare,  with  the  sanction  of  foreign  nations.  They  can 
obtain  abroad  loans,  military  and  naval  materials,  as  against  every 
thing  but  neutrality  laws. 

What  Rights  are  Acquired. 

"  Their  flag  and  commissions  are  acknowledged,  their  revenue  laws 
are  respected,  and  they  acquire  a  quasi-political  recognition.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  parent  government  is  relieved  from  responsibility  for 
acts  done  in  the  insurgent  territory ;  its  blockade  of  its  own  ports  is 
respected,  and  it  acquires  a  right  to  exert  against  neutral  commerce 
all  the  powers  of  a  party  to  a  maritime  war." 

It  was  thought  altogether  probable  that  Spain  would  immediately 
enter  a  protest,  if  the  belligerency  of  the  insurgents  was  recognized, 
just  as  the  .United  States  did  in  the  early  days  of  the  civil  war,  when 
France  took  that  action.  The  then  Secretary  of  State,  William  H. 
Seward,  acknowledged  the  right  of  France  to  take  such  a  step  in 
these  words  : 

"  The  President  (Mr.  Lincoln)  does  not  deny — on  the  contrary,  he 
maintains — that  every  sovereign  power  decides  for  itself,  on  its  respon 
sibility,  the  question  whether  or  not  it  will  at  a  given  time  accord  the 
status  of  belligerency  to  the  insurgent  subjects  of  another  power,  as 
also  the  larger  question  of  the  independence  of  such  subjects  and 
their  accession  to  the  family  of  sovereign  States." 

As  to  the  contention  by  Spain  that  war  did  not  exist  in  Cuba; 
that  there  was  a  revolt  against  constituted  authority,  by  a  mob  of 
rioters,  this  was  pretty  thoroughly  disposed  of  by  the  opinion  of  the 


134  FREEDOM    FOR   CUBA. 

Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  about  twenty  years  ago.     It  has 
never  been  changed  or  abridged. 

"  A  civil  war,"  said  Judge  Grier,  giving  the  opinion  in  what  is 
known  as  the  Prize  Cases,  "  is  never  solemnly  declared ;  it  becomes 
such  by  its  accidents,  the  number,  power  and  organization  of  the 
persons  who  originate  and  carry  it  on.  When  the  party  in  rebellion 
occupy  and  hold  in  a  hostile  manner  a  certain  portion  of  territory ; 
have  declared  their  independence;  have  cast  off  their  allegiance;  have 
organized  armies ;  have  commenced  hostilities,  the  world  acknowl 
edges  them  as  belligerents,  and  the  contest  a  war." 

The  Resolutions  Adopted. 

After  much  discussion  in  Congress  concerning  the  form  that  the 
resolutions  should  take,  making  the  action  of  the  two  Houses  con 
current,  on  April  6th,  1896,  by  the  decisive  and  emphatic  vote  of 
244  yeas  to  27  nays  the  House  of  Representatives  passed  the  Senate 
concurrent  resolutions  declaring  that  public  war  exists  in  Cuba,  and 
granting  belligerent  rights  to  the  insurgents. 

Public  interest  in  the  Cuban  question  was  manifested  by  the  people 
of  Washington,  and  long  before  the  noon  hour  the  Capitol  corridors 
were  thronged.  When  the  House  of  Representatives  was  called  to 
order  there  was  standing-room  only  in  the  galleries,  and  long  lines 
of  waiting  people  filled  the  corridors  before  the  entrance  doors. 
There  were  no  proceedings  of  unusual  moment  on  the  floor  of  the 
House.  There  was  no  debate  and  no  opposition  to  the  proceedings. 

Congressman  Hitt,  of  Illinois,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  For 
eign  Affairs,  arose  and  demanded  the  regular  order,  and  Speaker 
Reed  put  the  question  on  the  adoption  of  the  conference  report. 
The  great,  swelling  chorus  of  ayes  was  followed  by  a  feeble,  scatter 
ing  negative  vote,  and  the  Speaker  was  about  to  declare  the  motion 
carried  when  Mr.  Hitt  asked  for  the  yeas  and  nays.  Yielding  to  the 
appeals  of  many  members,  however,  he  withdrew  it;  but  Mr.  Tucker, 
of  Virginia,  demanded  a  record-making  vote,  and  so  the  roll  was 
called. 

When  Speaker  Reed  announced  that  "  The  yeas  are  244  and  the 


FREEDOM    FOR   CUBA.  135 

nays  27,  and  the  resolutions  are  adopted,"  the  applause  upon  the 
floor  of  the  House  and  in  the  galleries  was  roof-shaking  in  its  inten 
sity  and  continuity. 

By  its  action  the  House  agreed  to  the  Senate  resolutions,  and 
disposed  of  the  Cuban  question.  These  resolutions  are  as  follows  : 

Resolved,  That,  in  the  opinion  of  Congress,  a  condition  of  public 
war  exists  between  the  Government  of  Spain  and  the  government 
proclaimed  and  for  some  time  maintained  by  force  of  arms  by  the 
people  of  Cuba,  and  that  the  United  States  of  America  should  main 
tain  a  strict  neutrality  between  the  contending  powers,  according  to 
each  all  the  rights  of  belligerents  in  the  ports  and  territory  of  the 
United  States. 

Resolved,  Further,  that  the  friendly  offices  of  the  United  States 
should  be  offered  by  the  President  to  the  Spanish  Government  for 
the  recognition  of  the  independence  of  Cuba. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
Spanish  Insults  to  the  American  Flag. 

REAT  excitement  was  caused  in  Spain  by  the  passage  of  the 
resolutions  in  the  United  States  Senate  relating  to  the  inde 
pendence  of  Cuba,  and  in  a  number  of  places  the  American 
flag  was  torn  down  and  trampled  upon  by  boisterous  mobs.  As  show 
ing  the  spirit  by  which  the  crowds  were  actuated,  we  give  here  a 
detailed  account  of  the  insults,  which  it  is  but  just  to  the  Spanish 
authorities  to  say  they  repudiated,  calling  out  troops  in  some  instances 
to  protect  our  American  officials  and  their  residences. 

At  Madrid  on  March  2nd,  1896,  there  was  a  demonstration  of 
students  against  the  American  legation,  but  before  any  overt  acts  had 
been  committed  the  mob  was  dispersed  by  the  authorities.  The  ex 
citement  over  the  Cuban  question  was  intense.  The  prompt  measures 
taken  by  the  authorities  to  suppress  disorder  and  prevent  demonstra 
tions,  large  forces  of  police  being  everywhere  present,  convinced  the 
people  that  lawless  acts  would  not  be  tolerated. 

At  Barcelona  mounted  gendarmes  were  kept  busy  patrolling  the 
city  and  dispersing  gatherings  of  persons  plotting  to  vent  their  wrath 
upon  the  representatives  of  the  United  States  Government  there.  Re 
peated  attempts  were  made  to  attack  the  United  States  Consulate. 
The  rioters  were  repeatedly  charged  by  the  police  and  scattered,  only 
to  form  in  some  other  place  with  a  determination  to  mob  the  Con 
sulate.  Such  tenacity  of  purpose  indicated  that  mischief-makers  were 
working  upon  the  excited  populace. 

The  greatest  activity  was  displayed  in  the  government  dockyards, 
and  every  preparation  possible  was  being  made  by  the  naval  and 
military  forces  for  an  emergency. 

The  "  Imparcial,"  a  Madiid  journal,  declared  that  the  utterances  of 
the  United  States  Senate  constituted  an  "  unqualified  anc?  unreasoning 
138 


138  INSULTS   TO   THE  AMERICAN   FLAG. 

provocation,"  adding :  "  If  the  desire  for  war  was  on  account  of  a 
fault  in  Spain,  the  Senators  would  be  doing  their  duty.  But  no  pro 
vocation  has  been  given  to  the  United  States,  and  ti.e  Americans 
judge  rashly  of  the  results  of  a  Spanish- American  war.  The  ob 
noxious  language  of  the  Senate  ought  not  to  surprise  any  one. 
United  States  Senators  are  accustomed  to  exchange  gross  insults 
without  crossing  swords  or  exchanging  bullets.  These  are  the 
cowards  who  are  seeking  war,  and  one  awaits  death  with  more  cool 
ness  with  a  good  conscience  than  with  pockets  filled  with  dollars." 

The  Spanish  officials  at  Washington  described  the  occurrences  in 
Spain  as  merely  the  outbursts  of  a  few  excited  Spanish  youths,  and 
claimed  that  the  dispatches  bore  out  this  view,  and  there  was  no 
probability  of  any  diplomatic  trouble.  The  prompt  disavowal  of  the 
Minister  of  State  to  Minister  Taylor  was  pointed  to  as  evidence  that 
the  Spanish  Government  did  not  sympathize  with  the  "  mob." 

"Down  with  the  United  States." 

An  anti-American  demonstration  occurred  at  Cadiz,  Spain,  March 
7.  A  mob  of  about  500  students  met  in  Genove's  Park.  They  carried 
two  Spanish  flags,  and,  after  cheering  some  fiery  utterances,  paraded 
before  the  town  hall  with  cries  of  "  Long  live  Spain  !  "  "  Down  with 
the  United  States  ! "  etc.  Later,  they  proceeded  to  a  tobacco  factory 
and  asked  the  manager  to  permit  the  workmen  to  join  in  the  demon 
stration.  The  manager,  however,  refused  and  called  upon  the  police 
for  protection.  The  latter  charged  the  mob  with  drawn  swords,  and 
several  of  the  students  were  wounded  before  they  were  driven  away 
from  the  vicinity  of  the  factory. 

After  leaving  that  neighborhood  the  students  made  a  demonstra 
tion  in  front  of  the  military  club.  There  the  police  were  again 
ordered  to  charge  the  mob.  This  time  the  students  showered  stones 
upon  the  police  and  were  dispersed  with  much  more  difficulty.  The 
authorities  anticipated  additional  outbreaks. 

The  orchestra  of  the  Grand  Theatre  at  Barcelona  played  the 
national  march,  and  the  audience  rose  with  enthusiastic  shouts  of 
"  Long  live  Spain  !  "  "  Long  live  General  Weyler !  "  "  Long  live  the 


INSULTS  TO  THE  AMERICAN   FLAG. 


139 


army  !"  "  Down  with  the  United  States  !  "  etc.  The  audience,  after 
leaving  the  theatre,  was  joined  by  very  many  other  people,  and 
paraded  the  streets,  utterin  g  similar  shouts.  The  demonstrations  took 
such  proportions  that  the  police  were  unable  to  disperse  the  crowds, 
and  it  became  necessary  to 
call  out  the  gendarmes,  tvho, 
with  a  considerable  show  of 
force,  succeeded  in  quelling 
the  disturbance. 

There  was  an  anti-Ameri 
can  riot  at  Bilboa,  Spain, 
March  g,  and  it  was  of  greater 
importance  than  the  previous 
so-called  patriotic  disturb 
ances  caused  by  the  action  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  in  regard  to  Cuba. 
About  I2;ooo  people  took 
part  in  the  public  demonstra 
tion.  The  excitement  was 
started  by  a  group  of  young 

men  at  a  street  corner,  who  began  cheering  every  soldier  who  passed 
by.  Their  conduct  was  soon  imitated  by  other  groups  of  people,  until 
every  soldier  seen  was  cheered  by  the  crowds,  and  some  musicians 
who  refused  to  repeat  the  national  anthem  were  hustled,  beaten  and 
otherwise  maltreated. 

The  excitement  increased,  and  riotous  groups  formed  in  the  main 
streets,  cheering  for  Spain  and  denouncing  the  United  States.  The 
authorities  did  everything  possible  to  maintain  order.  Almost  the 
entire  police  force  was  turned  out  as  soon  as  the  populace  assumed  a 
threatening  aspect,  and  the  rioters  were  dispersed  again  and  again. 
Eventually,  however,  the  mob  became  so  numerous  and  excited  that 
the  police  were  almost  helpless. 

After  the  first  demonstrations  of  sympathy  with  the  army  the  crowds 
had  armed  themselves  with  sticks  and  cudgels,  and  their  numbers 


GENERAL    WEYLER. 


140  INSULTS   TO   THE  AMERICAN   FLAG. 

were  so  great  that  the  police  were  swept  aside  and  an  immense  crowd 
gathered  on  the  leading  thoroughfare,  and  marched  towards  the  resi 
dence  of  the  United  States  Consul,  shouting,  "  Long  live  Spain  !  '• 
"  Down  with  the  Yankees  !  " 

On  their  way  to  the  Consul's  residence  they  hurled  stones  through 
the  windows  of  stores  and  private  residences,  overturned  a  number  of 
vehicles,  pulled  several  mounted  policemen  from  their  horses  and 
generally  behaved  in  the  most  threatening  manner.  Stores  dealing 
in  American  goods  received  the  most  attention  from  the  mob,  and 
the  windows  of  the  Consul's  house  were  badly  shattered,  although 
the  police  defended  the  building. 

The  mob  then  proceeded  in  the  direction  of  the  United  States  Con 
sulate,  evidently  intending  to  stone  the  building  as  well.  But  the 
authorities  had  taken  the  precaution  to  send  a  strong  force  of  police 
to  guard  that  building  and  another  detachment  of  police  was  stationed 
across  the  streets  leading  to  the  Consulate.  Therefore  when  the  mob 
neared  the  United  States  Consulate  it  was  confronted  by  the  police 
with  drawn  swords.  The  mob  halted,  and  then  began  pelting  the 
police  most  vigorously  with  stones  and  pieces  of  brick. 

The  policemen,  however,  held  their  ground,  and  a  squad  of  the 
officers  charged  the  rioters.  The  latter  began  firing  pistols  at  the 
policemen,  two  of  whom  were  wounded.  This  caused  the  police  to 
charge  in  a  body,  and,  using  their  swords  with  good  effect,  the  rioters 
were  dispersed,  yelling  and  hooting  at  the  authorities  and  shouting, 
"  Down  with  the  Yankees  !  "  and  "  Long  live  Spain  !  " 

The  police,  who  made  a  number  of  arrests,  experienced  considers' 
ble  difficulty  in  escorting  their  prisoners  to  the  depots.  During  the 
whole  afternoon  there  was  more  or  less  disorder.  It  was  decided  to 
keep  both  the  police  proper  and  the  gendarmes  confined  to  barracks 
until  further  orders,  as  there  seemed  to  be  danger  of  another  out 
break. 

The  United  States  Consulate  was  guarded  by  a  strong  detachment 
of  gendarmes  armed  with  carbines,  revolvers  and  swords,  and  they 
had  instructions  to  protect  the  Consulate  at  any  cost. 

There  was  a  serious  anti-American  riot  at  Salamanca  March     th- 


VS. 


INSULTS   TO  THE   AMERICAN   FLAG.  141 

The  students,  as  usual,  were  the  leaders  of  the  disturbance.  They 
carried  Spanish  and  American  flags  and  burned  the  latter  amid  the 
acclamations  of  the  crowds  which  gathered  to  witness  the  "  patriotic  " 
demonstration. 

Cheering  for  Spain. 

Eventually  the  gendarmes  charged  the  rioters  and  dispersed  them 
temporarily.  Later  the  students  reassembled  and  gathered  another 
mob  about  them.  The  prefect  hurried  to  the  scene  and  exhorted  the 
students  to  disperse,  but  they  hooted  his  utterances,  cheering  for 
Spain  and  denouncing  the  United  States. 

Finally  the  prefect  was  compelled  to  call  upon  the  police  for  pro 
tection,  and  the  gendarmes  again  charged  the  riotous  students,  who 
met  the  onslaught  with  showers  of  stones.  Order,  however,  was 
finally  restored,  and  the  university  was  closed.  The  authorities 
feared  there  would  be  more  outbreaks,  and  more  elaborate  precau 
tions  were  taken  to  promptly  suppress  them. 

A  dispatch  from  Madrid,  March  1 2th,  was  as  follows:  "Further 
demonstrations  of  students  against  the  United  States,  as  a  result  of 
the  Cuban  resolutions  of  Congress,  have  occurred.  At  Corunna  two 
hundred  students  belonging  to  the  University  joined  in  a  parade  yes 
terday,  cheered  for  Spain  and  burned  an  American  flag.  The  police, 
however,  succeeded  in  preventing  the  rioters  from  approaching  the 
United  States  Consulate. 

"  At  Alicante  the  Mayor  and  police,  while  dispersing  a  similar  anti- 
American  demonstration,  were  pelted  with  stones.  A  number  of 
policemen  sustained  injuries. 

"  A  dispatch  from  Barcelona  says  that  on  the  arrival  there  last 
night  of  a  train  from  Aragon  two  men  were  arrested  upon  a  charge 
of  carrying  concealed  weapons.  When  a  search  of  their  clothing 
was  made,  thirty  dynamite  cartridges  and  two  daggers  were  dis 
covered.  The  men  asserted  they  had  found  the  cartridges  upon  the 
road,  and  declared  that  they  had  come  to  Barcelona  in  search  of 
work.  The  police  discredit  their  story.  The  United  States  Con 
sulate  is  being  closely  guarded." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
Horrors  of  Morro  Castle. 

HAVANA  may,  undoubtedly,  be  called  a  military  city;  for  at 
every  corner  you  meet  a  soldier,  before  nearly  every  public 
office  there  is  a  guard,  and  at  various  hours  of  the  day  and 
evening,  and  in  various  parts  of  the  city,  one's  ear  is  greeted  by  the 
notes  of  the  bugle,  or  the  rattling  of  the  drum ;  while  many  of  the 
barracks  and  a  fort  or  two  are  right  in  the  midst  of  the  city. 

At  night,  sometimes,  these  sentries  are  troublesome  with  their 
challenging,  in  an  open  city ;  and  if  one  approaches  too  near  their 
posts,  he  hears  the  words,  quickly  rung  out,  "  Who  goes  there  ?" 
( Qiden  vive  f)  As  a  reply  has  to  be  made,  the  Habaneros  say, 
"  Espaiia"  the  regular  pass-word.  An  American  finds  no  trouble  in 
replying,  " Forastero "  (foreigner),  or  ** Americano"  But  now-a-days, 
the  latter  might  be  dangerous,  as  the  name  does  not  seem  to  be 
popular. 

A  great  deal  of  good  sense  has  been  displayed  in  uniforming  the 
troops  for  this  climate.  In  lieu  of  the  heav}'  cloth,  the  Cuban  sol< 
diers  are  clad  in  simple  linen,  of  various  colors — white,  blue  and 
brown — than  which  nothing  can  look  more  soldierly.  Take,  for 
instance,  the  infantry  soldier,  in  full  uniform.  He  wears  a  sort  of 
dark  blue  dungaree  blouse,  gathered  at  the  waist  to  give  it  a  natty 
shape,  a  pair  of  neat  brown-drilling  pantaloons,  and  a  low-crowned 
cap  of  leather,  with  visor  enough  to  be  of  some  use. 

In  lieu  of  the  stiff,  uncomfortable  coat  collar,  and  the  still  more 
uncomfortable  and  unhealthy  leather  stock,  he  wears  a  neatly  rolled 
collar,  of  red  cloth,  which,  with  his  cuffs  of  the  same,  can  be  taken 
off  when  he  sends  his  kit  to  the  wash. 

Others,  again,  are  uniformed  in  pure  white,  with  pretty  "  shoulder 
knockers,"  and  collars  and  cuffs  of  red ;  while  the  cavalry  and  artil 
142 


HORRORS  OF   MORRO   CASTLE.  14^ 

lerymen  wear  loose  short  jackets,  pants  of  blue  linen,  and  broad 
palm-leaf  hats.  This  uniform,  far  from  being  uncomfortable  or 
unsoldierly,  is  just  the  opposite;  and  Spanish  troops  have  the  appear 
ance  of  clean  and  well-instructed  soldiers. 

The  Captain-General  is  the  superior  military  chief  of  the  Island, 
and  commander-in-chief  of  its  armies ;  while  next  to  him  in  rank  is 
the  second  chief,  who  has  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  and  pay  of 
ten  thousand  dollars  per  annum,  and  who  is  also  the  sub-inspector  of 
infantry  and  cavalry.  The  corps  of  artillery  and  engineers  have 
special  sub-inspectors,  with  the  title  of  mariscales  de  campo. 

The  fortresses  of  the  Island,  in  which  are  nearly  always  the  prisons 
and  the  barracks  of  the  troops,  have  their  owt<  governors  or  con?- 
manders,  with  special  staffs. 

Large  Standing  Army- 

The  army  consists  generally  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  thousand  men, 
with  its  proportion  of  infantry,  artillery,  cavalry,  engineers  and 
marines.  Each  regiment  has  a  colonel  and  lieutenant-colonel,  a 
drum-major,  and  six  contract  musicians.  The  battalion  has  a  first 
and  second  commander,  an  adjutant  (lieutenant),  an  ensign,  a  chap 
lain,  and  a  surgeon,  a  chief  bugler,  and  a  master  armorer.  These 
regiments  are  all  known  by  names  (not  numbers),  such  as  the  King's, 
the  Queen's,  Isabel  II.  of  Naples,  of  Spain,  etc.,  which  does  much 
towards  increasing  the  esprit  du  corps  so  necessary  to  make  good 
soldiers. 

There  is  also  a  battalion  known  as  the  "  Guardia  Civil,"  a  fine 
body  of  men,  who  are  scattered  in  small  detachments  throughout  the 
Island,  mostly  as  watchmen  and  police,  or,  perhaps,  as  spies.  They 
are  generally  an  intelligent  set,  handsomely  uniformed  in  well-fitting, 
dark-blue  coats,  white  pants,  and  broad-brimmed  felt  hats,  neatly 
bound  with  white.  One  sees  them  on  the  wharves,  in  the  opera- 
house,  at  the  theatre,  patrolling  the  paseo — in  fact,  everywhere  in 
Havana. 

A  large  percentage  of  the  troops  die  every  year  when  they  first 
come  from  Spain,  and  therefore  a  large  supply  of  recruits  is  neces- 


144  HORRORS   OF   MORRO   CASTLE. 

sary  to  keep  the  regiments  up  to  their  maximum.  The  pay  of  field, 
staff,  and  line  is  about  the  same  as  in  our  army,  being  double  that 
which  is  received  in  Spain ;  though,  as  some  of  the  officers  declare, 
"half pay"  is  more  at  home  (Spain)  than  double  pay  in  Cuba,  every 
thing  costs  so  much  more  on  the  Island. 

Havana  is  said  to  be  impregnable.  If  it  is  not,  it  ought  to  be, 
judging  from  the  number  of  its  stone  walls,  its  frowning  fortresses, 
and  its  ships  of  war ;  and  yet  it  is  not  so  strong  as  it  looks.  The 
day  is  past  for  the  simple,  old-fashioned  ways  of  attack  by  buccaneers, 
and  new  modes  of  war  make  sad  inroads  upon  the  protection 
afforded  by  some  of  these  old-time  forts. 

Warning  to  Filibusters. 

The  Morro  and  La  Punta  Command  the  entrance.  Across  ther  bay 
is  the  Cabanas,  with  its  guns  pointing  in  every  direction,  and  at  the 
end  of  the  bay  the  Fortress  of  Santo  Domingo  de  Atares.  which 
commands  the  bay  and  holds  the  city  itself  under  surveillance.  East 
and  west,  La  Punta,  El  Morro,  Cabanas,  Number  Four,  Principe, 
San  Lazaro,  Pastora,  and  the  Tower  of  Chorrera  give  notice  to  the 
adventurous  filibuster  to  "  keep  ofT." 

The  Castillo  de  los  tres  Santos  Reyes  del  Morro,  and  the  Fortress 
of  San  Carlos  de  la  Cabana  are  the  ones  which  every  traveler  desires 
to  see,  and  which  every  one,  if  it  is  possible,  should  visit,  as  they  are 
world-renowned,  in  addition  to  being  well  worth  seeing,  not  only  on 
account  of  their  structure,  but  on  account  of  the  magnificent  views 
of  sea  and  land  from  their  battlements. 

In  former  years,  it  was  a  matter  of  some  difficulty  to  gain  entrance 
to  these  forts,  and  it  is  not  now  accomplished  very  easily.  Of  course, 
our  consul  is  the  person  to  secure  passes  to  the  forts ;  he  always 
obliges  such  parties  of  Americans  as  desire  to  visit  them,  unless  in 
war  times.  The  authorities  have  a  regular  printed  form  of  passes. 
Starting  from  the  landing  just  outside  the  Puerta  dc  la  Punta,  it  is 
only  a  short  pull  directly  across  to  the  landing  of  El  Morro. 

Strolling  up  the  slope  from  the  landing,  one  begins  to  realize  im 
mediately  the  apparently  great  strength  of  the  work.  The  slope  itself 


HORRORS   OF   MORRO   CASTLE.  145 

which  conducts  up  to  the  main  gate  of  the  castle  is  very  strong, 
with  solid  stone  parapets  on  each  side,  and  a  road  laid  in  mortar 
with  small,  regular-sized  cobble-stones.  To  the  left,  almost  on  a  line 
with  the  water,  is  the  water  battery  known  as  the  "  Twelve  Apostles," 
— twelve  iron  guns,  mounted  on  siege  carriages,  carrying  twenty- 
four  pound  shot,  and  worked  en  barbette,  which  would  give  them 
great  effect  at  short  range  on  any  vessel  attempting  to  pass. 

Although  the  soldiers  of  whom  you  ask  questions  in  the  fort  either 
dare  not  or  will  not  tell  anything,  yet  they  are  useful  guides.  The 
walls  here  at  the  entrance  are  very  thick,  you  notice,  and  form  case 
mates,  the  one  to  the  right  being  the  guard-room,  which  is  also 
occupied  by  the  officer  of  the  day,  who  sometimes  strolls  through 
the  fort  with  foreigners. 

A  Dismal  Old  Fort. 

In  front  of  the  entrance  are  the  barracks  and  the  storehouses, 
which  seem  to  occupy  the  hollow  square  formed  by  the  walls  of  this 
portion  of  the  fort.  They  are  of  solid  stone,  with  their  rooms  arched, 
ceiled,  and  paved  in  stone,  the  bunks  of  the  men  being  simply  cots. 
Looking  towards  the  harbor  is  the  casemate  battery,  mounting  about 
eight  guns.  The  whole  of  this  first  fort,  which  seems  to  be  separated 
from  the  citadel  by  drawbridges,  is  very  cramped  and  very  dismal. 

On  the  extreme  corner  of  the  fort,  at  the  very  mouth  of  the 
entrance  to  the  bay,  stands  the  O'Donnell  light-house,  a  cylindrical 
tower  of  stone,  seventy-eight  feet  in  height  from  the  wall  of  the 
castle,  and  fifteen  feet  in  diameter,  being  altogether  one  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  The  light  is  of  the  first 
order  of  Fresnel,  fixed,  but  alternated  with  large  reflectors  tK.it  i  hine, 
every  half  minute,  for  about  five  or  six  seconds.  It  is  ordinarily  seen 
at  a  distance  of  eighteen  miles,  though  in  fine  weather  at  a  greater 
distance. 

Near  the  light-house,  but  upon  the  terreplain  of  the  portion  above, 
is  a  small  frame  house,  used  as  the  signal-station,  where  are  kept  the 
signal-flags,  which  are  displayed  from  the  masts  close  by;  there  aro 
so  many  flags  and  signals  of  all  nations,  thai  the  interior  of  the  house 


146  HORRORS   OF   MORRO   CASTLE. 

looks  quite  like  a  dry-goods  store.  This  portion  of  the  fort  is  reached 
by  a  stone  slope  leading  up  between  the  quarters,  or  by  a  narrow 
spiral  stone  stairway  inside  the  walls,  coming  out  upon  a  concrete 
terreplain  protected  by  stone  parapets,  pierced  with  embrasures  for 
cannon. 

From  the  parapet  there  is  a  fine  view  of  the  sea,  the  city,  and  the 
surrounding  country.  Here,  also,  can  be  seen  the  full  lines  of  the 
land-face  of  the  fort  and  the  position  of  the  others. 

A  Frowning  Battery. 

The  moat  is  a  dry  and  very  deep  one,  the  scarp  walls  of  which  are 
fully  one  hundred  feet  high,  and  the  width  full  fifty  feet.  From  the 
battlements  one  can  see  how  much  nature  did  for  this  fort  in  the 
beginning ;  for  from  the  sea-side  directly  up  to  the  counter-scarp, 
there  is  a  natural  glacis,  commanded  completely  from  every  part  by 
the  guns  en  barbette  in  this  part  of  the  fort.  The  strongest  battery, 
and  the  only  one  that  really  looks  as  though  it  were  ready  for  work, 
is  the  one  to  the  extreme  right  of  the  fort,  entered  by  a  covered  way; 
and  forming  the  sea-coast  battery. 

It  mounts  about  twenty-four  iron  guns,  of  thirty-two  pounds  cali 
bre,  on  siege  carriages,  and  appears  to  be  a  very  strong  battery. 
Just  after  entering  the  fort,  by  the  stone  slope,  inside  the  exterior 
wall,  there  is  to  the  right  hand  a  long  stone-covered  gallery,  connect 
ing  the  southern  face  of  the  fort  with  the  covered  way  that  leads  to 
the  sea-coast  battery,  as  also  to  the  road  leading  over  to  the  Cabanas 
on  the  brow  of  the  hill.  This  is  a  strong  affair,  arched,  and  lighted 
by  long,  narrow  apertures.  It  is  about  one  hundred  yards  long. 

Morro  Castle  is  not  only  celebrated  for  the  beauty  of  its  natural 
surroundings,  but  notorious  because  of  the  untold  misery  hidden 
within  its  walls.  The  historic  structure,  intended  as  a  military 
stronghold,  is  admirably  situated  on  a  high  elevation  at  the  entrance 
to  the  harbor  of  Havana,  and,  as  already  stated,  from  that  location  an 
excellent  view  is  obtainable  of  the  land  and  water  for  many  miles 
around.  Viewed  from  a  military  point  of  observation,  the  castle, 
even  with  its  natural  advantages,  is  no  longer  a  stronghold. 


HORRORS   OF   MORRO    CASTLE.  147 

A  bombardment  by  the  elements  controlled  by  the  devastating 
hand  of  Father  Time  has  created  sad  havoc  with  the  architectural 
beauties  of  the  old  place,  and  what  was  at  one  time  a  really  powerful 
fortification  is  nothing  more  than  a  crumbling  mass  of  masonry. 
Cubans  say  that  a  sad  tale  of  horror  and  misery  can  be  told  about 
the  place  for  every  one  of  the  building  stones  used  in  the  construc 
tion  of  the  castle,  and  they  now  regard  it  as  simply  a  shell  where 
human  suffering  is  carefully  concealed  from  the  light  of  civilization. 

A  House  of  Horrors. 

While  in  Cuba  an  American  correspondent  viewed  the  castle  from 
various  points  of  observation.  Fortunately  for  himself  he  did  not 
view  it  from  the  inside,  however,  although  several  other  American 
newspaper  correspondents  have  been  detained  there  under  exasperat 
ing  conditions. 

"  The  castle  is  a  grand  old  place  from  a  distant  point  of  view," 
writes  the  journalist.  "  In  nearly  every  other  consideration  it  is  a 
House  of  Horrors.  A  mere  mention  of  the  name  Morro  Castle 
thrills  the  heart  of  the  average  Cuban  with  an  ill-feeling,  and  they 
have  a  greater  dread  of  confinement  there  than  they  have  of  the  yel 
low  fever. 

"  Political  prisoners  and  suspects  are  taken  there  under  a  strong 
guard  of  armed  men.  They  are  taken  there  in  boats  about  6  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  the  soldiers  having  bayonets  drawn  ready  for  instant 
use.  While  on  the  way  to  the  castle  it  would  be  almost  certain 
death  for  a  prisoner  to  show  the  least  sign  of  insubordination,  for  the 
guards  are  authorized  to  deal  summarily  with  their  prisoners  when 
ever  occasion  requires,  and  no  hesitation  occurs  in  taking  full  and 
instant  advantage  of  that  feature. 

"  Mr.  Michaelson,  the  correspondent  of  a  New  York  newspaper, 
and  his  interpreter  were  confined  there  as  suspects.  It  required  ex 
ertions  of  a  most  vigorous  character  for  other  Americans  to  discover 
the  fact  that  Mr.  Michaelson  was  really  confined  there.  Murat  Hal- 
stead  and  other  Americans  interviewed  General  Weyler,  and  finally 
gained  from  the  Spanish  commander  a  blunt  admission  that  the  New 


148  HORRORS   OF   MORRO   CASTLE. 

York    writer   was    in    the    castle.     The    treatment    Mr.    Michaelson 
received  was  almost  brutal  in  its  nature. 

"  He  was  compelled  to  sleep  on  the  bare  floor,  and  the  interior  of 
the  whole  castle  is  like  a  dungeon.  Stimulants  forwarded  to  the 
castle  by  his  friends  were  never  delivered  to  the  prisoner.  A  ham 
mock  was  not  permitted  to  reach  him  until  the  day  before  he  was 
liberated,  and  meals  purchased  at  a  hotel  for  his  benefit  were  detained 
on  the  outside.  His  food  was  thrown  to  him  as  it  might  be  given  to 
a  dog.  Finally,  a  prison  attendant  who  saw  that  he  was  a  gentleman, 
gave  him  food  on  a  tin  plate,  and  then  said  in  Spanish,  '  I  would 
like  to  have  a  little  tip,  if  you  don't  mind,  sir.'. 

Slow  Death  in  Prison  Vaults. 

"  While  in  the  cell,  the  correspondent  saw  a  rat  of  tremendous  size. 
It  was  a  black  rat  with  a  long  gray  beard,  and  approached  Michael- 
son,  he  said,  as  if  bent  on  opening  hostilities.  Michaelson  took  off 
his  boot  and  hurled  it  at  the  animal,  the  missile  striking  the  cell  door 
with  a  loud  noise.  The  rat  was  frightened  away,  and  prison  officials 
were  attracted  to  the  cell  They  rebuked  the  prisoner  for  a  breach 
of  prison  discipline,  the  noise  not  being  permissible. 

"  The  prison  is  a  damp,  unhealthy  place,  where  no  regard  is  paid 
to  sanitary  arrangements  or  conditions.  A  short  confinement  within 
its  dreary  walls  is  frequently  attended  with  fatal  consequences.  The 
climate  is  such  that  dreaded  fevers  are  disastrous  in  their  results,  the 
ravages  of  yellow  fever  being  terrible  in  extent. 

"  The  hospitals  in  and  around  Havana  are  so  crowded  with 
patients  that  frequently  the  military  doctors  send  sufferers  to  hotels 
while  the  unfortunates  are  suffering  from  some  dreaded  disease.  The 
announcement  is  made  that  the  complaint  is  rheumatism  or  some 
other  disease  not  of  an  infectious  or  contagious  character,  so  that 
this  method  frequently  results  in  many  well  persons  being  subjected 
needlessly  to  great  dangers  of  contamination." 

In  April  two  hundred  and  twelve  men  were  confined  in  two  cells 
of  Morro  Castle.  They  were  political  prisoners,  or  "  suspects,"  await- 
;ng  trial.  Some  had  been  there  a  week,  some  a  month,  some  a  year. 


HORRORS   OF   MORRO   CASTLE.  149 

Two  were  American  citizens ;  one  a  British  subject.  There  was  a 
boy  of  fourteen  years,  born  in  Spain,  and  not  long  enough  in  Cuba 
to  dream  of  rebelling  against  the  government 

There  were  men  bowed  in  years,  young  men,  merchants,  profes 
sional  men,  clerks  and  farm  laborers,  all  gathered  in  and  thrown 
together,  with  little  or  no  evidence  of  having  aided  or  taken  part  in 
the  insurrection.  In  the  Cabanas  fortress,  close  by,  and  in  prisons 
all  over  the  Island,  were  other  unfortunates.  Two  thousand,  three 
thousand,  perhaps  four  thousand,  altogether,  for  no  man  may  know 
how  many  people  Spain  had  behind  the  bars  at  this  time  in  Cuba. 

Like  Subterranean  Tunnels. 

But  of  the  212  in  the  Morro.  Each  cell  is  about  20  feet  wide  and 
nearly  100  feet  deep.  They  are  of  stone,  arched  above,  and  are  more 
like  subterranean  tunnels  than  rooms  for  human  beings.  The  only 
openings  are  at  the  ends.  They  are  in  the  lower  part  of  a  building, 
within  the  outer  walls,  and  having  the  appearance  of  being  intended 
for  storing  supplies.  They  are  damp  and  filthy,  and  are  said  to  be 
infested  with  vermin.  Nothing  in  the  shape  of  chairs,  benches  or 
beds  is  provided.  There  are,  however,  hooks  for  fifty  hammocks  in 
each  room.  Friends  of  the  prisoners  supplied  the  hammocks ;  but, 
as  there  were  108  men  in  one  room,  and  104  in  the  other,  more  than 
half  the  number  were  compelled  to  sleep  on  the  stone  floor. 

Water  was  furnished  twice  a  day  in  separate  cans,  which  once 
contained  kerosene  oil.  Regular  army  rations  were  served.  The 
sanitary  arrangements  were  vile.  Many  men  were  taken  from  these 
cells  to  the  hospitals  before  the  slow-moving  authorities  saw  fit  to 
try  their  cases,  or  admit  that  they  had  no  case. 

One  of  the  prisoners  was  Lopez  Colona,  who  left  Matanzas  in  the 
early  days  of  the  rebellion.  Like  Juan  Gualberto  Gomez,  who  died 
in  Ceuta  prison,  Colona  presented  himself  when  Captain-General 
Calleja  issued  his  proclamation  granting  amnesty  to  all  insurgents 
who  surrendered.  He  had  been  in  prison  more  than  a  year,  had 
neither  been  deported  nor  given  a  trial,  and  stood  a  good  chance  of 
dying  in  prison. 


150  HORRORS   OF   MORRO   CASTLE. 

Another  prisoner  was  Manuel  Francisco  Aguerro.  He  affirmed 
he  was  an  American  citizen,  and  though  he  was  arrested  in  July, 
1895,  the  American  Consul  said  he  had  never  before  heard  of  the 
case.  Aguerro  was  a  general  agent  or  manager  of  a  traveling  circus. 
He  said  he  had  visited  the  United  States  yearly  to  obtain  features 
for  his  circus,  and  lived  there  at  one  time  five  years,  when  he  took 
out  citizenship  papers.  He  had  taken  no  part  in  the  war,  and  way 
arrested  in  Guara,  Havana  province,  July  7th,  1895. 

All  of  the  212  in  Morro  Castle  were  white.  One  already  men 
tioned  was  a  smooth-cheeked  Spanish  lad  of  fourteen,  who  was  clerk 
in  a  store  in  a  small  town  in  the  interior  of  Havana  province.  He 
lost  his  position,  and  was  walking  along  the  highway  to  Havana 
when  arrested,  charged  with  being  a  rebel. 

Aside  from  those  named,  the  political  prisoners  are  Cubans  almost 
without  exception.  They  are  not  in  any  sense  prisoners  of  war. 
They  are  peaceable  citizens  dragged  out  of  their  homes,  away  from 
families  dependent  upon  them  for  support,  and  sent  to  the  Morro. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
Stirring  Incidents  of  the  Conflict. 

IT  is  evident  that  there  was  no  opportunity  for  General  Weyler  to 
fight  a  pitched  battle  with  the  entire  insurgent  army.  The 
reason  is  plain.  The  insurgents  were  scattered  and  were  not 
massed  in  large  numbers.  They  were,  indeed,  separated  into  two 
divisions,  the  one  under  General  Gomez  and  the  other  under  General 
Antonio  Maceo,  but  they  were  not  to  be  found  at  any  one  point  in 
very  formidable  numbers. 

The  insurgent  generals  exhibited  great  strategy  in  avoiding  a 
pitched  battle  against  overwhelming  numbers.  They  knew  every  inch 
of  Cuba.  They  could  advance  and  retreat  with  the  swiftness  of  the 
wind.  They  were  well  acquainted  with  all  the  natural  strongholds, 
and  could  disappear  whenever  there  was  a  certainty  of  being  defeated 
or  captured  if  they  risked  battle.  Thus  the  war  progressed  and  was 
not  without  incidents  of  the  most  stirring  description. 

On  March  I3th,  Gomez  and  Maceo,  who  were  in  the  province  of 
Matanzas,  separated,  Gomez  remaining  in  the  vicinity  of  Jovellanos, 
while  Maceo  moved  west.  The  Government  troops  directed  atten 
tion  to  Maceo,  who  showed  a  tendency  to  retreat  toward  Havana. 
The  columns  commanded  by  Generals  Bernal  and  Prats,  Colonels 
Vicuna  and  Inclan,  Tort  and  Molina  and  the  Almanza  battalion 
formed  a  combination  to  encircle  Maceo  and  prevent  his  entrance  to 
Havana  province.  The  official  announcement  was  made  at  the 
Palace  of  the  combination  of  the  seven  columns.  The  result  was 
anxiously  awaited. 

Later  the  Government  announced  that  Maceo  declined  an  engage 
ment  and  entered  Havana  province.  From  other  sources  it  was 
learned  that  Maceo  discovered  the  combination,  and  with  Lacret  and 
Bandera's  forces,  numbering  over  ten  thousand,  fell  upon  the 

151 


152      STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF  THE   CONFLICT. 

Almanza  battalion,  which  happened  to  be  a  raw  one  recently  arrived 
from  Spain,  broke  it  to  pieces  near  Los  Palos,  rode  over  the  remains 
and  crossed  the  Havana  line,  leaving  the  Government  combination  in 
the  rear.  Maceo  passed  south  of  Guines  and  struck  the  railroad 
north  of  Batanao,  removed  the  track  and  telegraph  wires  from  the 
trocha,  and  caused  consternation  in  the  block-houses  along  the  strong 
line.  In  the  vicinity  of  Pozo  Redondo  he  burned  two  bridges,  and 
was  reported  going  in  the  direction  of  Pinar  del  Rio  line. 

General  Weyler  was  very  angry  over  the  failure  of  the  columns  to 
prevent  Maceo's  return,  especially  since  he  had  just  proclaimed  the 
province  free  of  insurgents.  The  Government  troops  were  rushed 
west  in  pursuit  of  Maceo,  and  the  strong  line  was  again  strengthened. 
There  was  no  improvement  in  the  situation  in  the  other  provinces. 
The  Spanish  held  only  three  towns  in  the  Western  province — Pinar 
del  Rio,  Candelaria  and  Artemisa. 

In  Matanzas  many  thousand  acres  of  cane  were  burned,  railroads 
destroyed  and  towns  attacked.  The  rebels  were  more  numerous  than 
ever.  The  same  was  true  of  Santa  Clara  and  Santiago  provinces. 
General  Weyler's  recent  decrees  were  being  rigidly  enforced,  causing 
panic  in  many  sections. 

The  Spaniards  Killing  One  Another. 

An  untoward  military  accident  occurred,  growing  out  of  a  mis 
understanding  of  the  reply  to  a  challenge,  resulting  in  the  killing  of 
twelve  soldiers  and  the  wounding  of  a  number  of  others.  A  small 
band  of  insurgents  had  set  fire  to  the  cane  and  buildings  on  a  sugar 
estate  near  Marianao,  Province  of  Havana.  The  smoke  attracted  the 
attention  of  two  columns  of  Spanish  troops  who  were  advancing  in 
search  of  the  rebels.  The  column  which  first  arrived  on  the  estate 
entrenched  themselves,  as  a  precaution  against  any  sudden  attack 
t'rom  the  insurgents,  who  were  supposed  to  be  near. 

The  second  column,  consisting  of  the  San  Quintin  battalion, 
arrived  on  the  scene  after  dark.  As  they  approached  the  entrench 
ments  of  the  first  column  they  were  hailed  by  the  usual  "  Alerta" 
from  a  picket,  and  responded  by  calling  out  the  name  of  their  battal- 


STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF   THE   CONFLICT.       153 

ion — San  Quintin.  The  picket,  confused  by  the  sudden  appearance 
of  the  column,  misunderstood  the  reply,  taking  it,  from  the  similarity 
of  sound,  to  be  Quintin  Bandera,  the  name  of  one  of  the  rebel 
leaders.  He  at  once  concluded  that  the  insurgents  were  moving  tc 
attack  the  column  to  which  he  belonged,  and,  without  further  parley, 
discharged  his  piece  and  fell  back  to  the  entrenchments,  where  the 
report  of  his  rifle  had  caused  all  the  troops  to  seize  their  arms  and 
prepare  to  repel  an  attack. 

The  second  column  had  in  the  meantime  continued  to  adv^nce^ 
supposing  that  they  had  come  upon  the  rebels  for  whom  they  were 
looking.  They  had  not  gone  far  before  the  first  column  poured  a 
volley  into  their  ranks.  The  second  column  returned  the  fire,  and 
then  in  response  to  an  order  fixed  their  bayonets  and  rushed  forward 
to  take  the  entrenchments  by  storm.  As  they  went  over  the  en 
trenchments  the  first  column  poured  another  volley  into  them,  and 
then  when  the  troops  came  into  close  quarters  it  was  discovered  from 
the  uniforms  and  flags  that  a  fatal  blunder  had  been  made. 

It  was  reported  that  the  losses  on  both  sides  in  killed  and  wounded 
were  over  thirty,  but  there  was  a  strong  suspicion  that  they  were 
much  larger. 

Defending  Havana. 

"  Within  three  days,"  says  a  journalist,  "  I  have  made  two  journeys 
out  into  the  surrounding  country,  and  have  seen  the  hurried  prepara 
tions  for  the  defense  of  the  city  which  are  going  on  day  and  night. 
I  went  clear  across  the  Island  to  the  south  coast  along  the  trocha, 
and  the  work  is  astonishing.  Miles  of  trenches  are  being  dug;  on 
every  high  piece  of  ground  commanding  a  quarter  of  mile  radius  has 
been  erected  a  stone  fort  with  a  boiler-iron  roof  and  watch-tower, 
and  outside  the  limits  of  the  city  not  a  building  commanding  a  street 
or  village,  or  a  hacienda  in  the  country  remains  which  has  not  been 
barricaded  and  garrisoned.  The  numerous  little  forts  are  each  capa 
ble  of  holding  a  hundred  or  a  hundred  and  fifty  men  and  a  machine 
gun  has  been  sent  out  to  half  a  dozen  of  them  which  are  nearest  the 
city. 


154        STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF   THE   CONFLICT. 

"  It  all  looks  very  much  like  the  hasty  defense  of  a  city  about  to 
be  attacked,  and  the  nature  of  the  fortifications,  outside  the  forts 
described,  bears  out  this  impression.  The  buildings  utilized  are 
topped  along  the  four  sides  of  the  roof  with  a  rampart  of  oil-barrels 
filled  with  sand,  and  when  the  supply  of  barrels  has  failed  ordinary 
sugar  sacks  have  been  used  in  the  same  way.  At  Guanabacoa,  east 
of  the  city  in  the  direction  of  Matanzas,  sardine  boxes,  flour  barrels, 
empty  cracker  cases,  old  lumber  and  every  sort  of  junk  have  been 
piled  up  in  lines  and  filled  with  gravel. 

The  following  letter,  addressed  to  the  American  press,  was  received 
at  Tampa,  Fla.,  March  I4th  : 

Outrages  by  a  Despot. 

"  If  the  Government  that  unhappily  rules  the  destinies  of  this 
unfortunate  country  should  be  true  to  the  most  rudimentary  princi 
ples  of  justice  and  morality,  Colonel  Jull,  who  has  been  recently 
appointed  Military  Governor  of  Matanzas  province,  should  be  in  the 
galleys  among  criminals.  It  is  but  a  short  time  since  he  was  relieved 
by  General  Martinez  Campos  of  the  military  command  at  Cienfuegos, 
as  he  had  not  once  engaged  any  of  the  insurgent  forces,  but  vented 
all  his  ferocious  instincts  against  innocent  and  inoffensive  peasants. 

"  In  Yaguaramas,  a  small  town  near  Cienfuegos,  he  arrested  as 
suspects  and  spies  Mr.  Antonio  Morejon,  an  honest  and  hard-working 
man,  and  Mr.  Ygnacio  Chapi,  who  is  well  advanced  in  years  and 
almost  blind.  Not  being  able  to  prove  the  charge  against  them,  as 
they  were  innocent,  he  ordered  Major  Moreno,  of  the  Barcelona 
battalion,  doing  garrison  duty  at  Yaguaramas,  to  kill  them  with  the 
machete  and  have  them  buried  immediately.  Major  Moreno  answered 
that  he  was  a  gentleman,  who  had  come  to  fight  for  the  integrity  of 
his  country,  and  not  to  commit  murder.  This  displeased  the  colonel 
sorely,  but,  unfortunately,  a  volunteer  sergeant,  with  six  others,  were 
willing  to  execute  the  order  of  the  colonel,  and  Morejon  and  Chapi 
were  murdered  without  pity. 

"The  order  of  Jull  was  executed  in  the  most  cruel  manner.  It 
horrifies  to  even  think  of  it.  Mr.  Chapi,  who  knew  the  ways  of 


STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF   THE   CONFLICT.       155 

Colonel  Jull,  on  being  awakened  at  3  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and 
notified  by  the  volunteer  of  the  guard  that  he  and  Morejon  had  to 
go  out,  suspected  what  was  to  come,  and  told  his  companion  to  cry 
out  for  help  as  soon  as  they  would  be  taken  out  of  the  fort.  They 
did  so,  but  those  who  were  to  execute  the  order  of  Jull  were  neither 
moved  nor  weakened  in  their  purpose. 

A  Ghastly  Spectacle. 

"  On  the  contrary,  at  the  first  screams  of  Chapi  and  Morejon  they 
threw  a  lasso  over  their  heads,  and  pulled  at  it  by  the  ends.  In  a 
few  moments  they  fell  to  the  ground,  choked  to  death.  They  were 
dragged  on  the  earth  without  pity  to  the  place  where  they  were  buried. 
All  this  bloody  scene  was  witnessed  by  Jull  from  a  short  distance. 
Providence  has  not  willed  that  so  much  iniquity  should  remain  hid 
den  forever.  In  the  hurry  the  grave  where  these  two  innocent  men 
were  buried  was  not  dug  deep  enough,  and  part  of  the  rope  with 
which  they  were  choked  remained  outside.  A  neighbor 'looking  for 
a  lost  cow  saw  the  rope,  took  hold  of  it,  and,  on  pulling,  disinterred 
the  head  of  one  of  the  victims.  He  was  terror-stricken,  and  imme 
diately  gave  notice  to  the  Guardia  Civil  and  the  Judge.  These 
authorities  soon  found  out  that  the  men  had  been  killed  by  order  of 
Colonel  Jull,  and  therefore  proceedings  were  suspended. 

"  The  neighbors  and  all  civil  and  military  authorities  know  every 
thing  that  has  been  related  here,  but  such  is  the  state  of  affairs  on 
this  Island  that  General  Weyler  has  had  no  objection  to  appointing 
this  monster,  Colonel  Jull,  Military  Governor  of  Matanzas.  Such 
deeds  as  enumerated  are  common. 

"  The  people  of  the  town  of  Matanzas,  with  Jull  as  Governor,  and 
Arolas  at  the  head  of  a  column,  will  suffer  the  consequences  of  their 
pernicious  and  bloody  instincts. 

"  That  the  readers  may  know  in  part  who  General  Arolas  is,  I  will 
relate  what  has  happened  in  the  Mercedes  estate,  near  Colon.  It 
having  come  to  his  knowledge  that  a  small  body  of  rebels  was 
encamped  on  the  sugar  Estate  Mercedes,  of  Mr.  Carrillo,  General 
Arolas  went  to  engage  them,  but  the  rebels,  who  were  few  in  num- 


156       STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF   THE   CONFLICT. 

her,  retreated.  Much  vexed  at  not  being  able  to  discharge  one 
at  them,  he  made  prisoners  of  three  workmen  who  were  out  in  the 
field  herding  the  animals  of  the  estate,  and  without  any  formality  of 
trial  shot  them.  When  the  bodies  were  taken  to  the  Central  they 
were  recognized,  and  to  cover  his  responsibility  somewhat  General 
Arolas  said  that  when  he  challenged  them  they  ran  off,  and  at  the 
first  discharge  of  musketry  they  fell  dead. 

*  It  seems  impossible  that  being  so  near  the  United  States,  so  neat 
that  country  so  free,  cultured  and  generous,  innocent  peasants  can  be 
butchered  with  impunity.  Not  even  in  Armenia  happens  what  is 
being  witnessed  in  Cuba.  The  history  of  the  Spanish  dominion  in 
this  unfortunate  Island  is  a  history  of  crimes." 

Appalling  Devastation. 

Some  idea  of  the  devastation  wrought  by  the  war  in  Cuba  may  be 
gathered  from  the  fact  that  fifty-nine  towns  were  destroyed  in  the  four 
western  provinces.  Most  of  these  towns  were  burned  by  the  insurgents 
for  resisting  attacks,  or  because  they  were  being  used  as  depots  of 
supplies  for  government  troops.  In  some  cases,  like  that  of  Cabanas, 
the  Spanish  troops  demolished  the  town  to  prevent  the  insurgents 
from  occupying  it.  Very  little  of  the  destruction  was  done  wantonly 
by  either  side. 

When  the  insurgents,  led  by  Maceo,  entered  Pinar  del  Rio  every 
town  in  the  province  except  the  capital  city  welcomed  him  with  open 
arms,  and  no  property  was  injured.  Later  the  Government  troops 
entered  the  province,  and,  moving  in  strong  columns,  dislodged  the 
insurgents  from  town  after  town,  establishing  their  own  garrisons  there. 
Thereupon  the  inhabitants  burned  their  own  town,  and  nearly  the 
entire  province  was  laid  in  ashes.  Spanish  troops  occupied  the  city 
of  Pinar  del  Rio,  the  towns  of  Candelaria,  Artemisa  and  the  port  of 
Colima.  All  the  rest  of  the  province  was  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
A  Spanish  force  was  sent  to  establish  a  base  of  supplies  at  Guane. 
Upon  the  approach  of  the  column  the  residents  burned  their  town. 

In  the  general  devastation  of  Pinar  del  Rio  tobacco  warehouses 
were  burned,  and  the  indications  were  that  this  crop  would  not  be 


STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF   THE   CONFLICT.       157 

permitted  to  reach  the  coast.  Banana  and  pineapple  crops  were  also 
interfered  with.  Shipments  from  the  interior  to  the  sea-coast  towns 
were  so  completely  blocked  that  at  Guines,  in  this  province,  cows 
were  offered  for  sale  at  $4  each,  pigs  $1,  turkeys  40  cents,  and  eggs 
and  milk  had  no  price.  In  Havana  these  things  were  worth  four 
times  the  customary  price,  and  codfish  imported  in  large  quantities 
for  consumption  in  the  interior  was  offered  for  one  and  one-half  cents 
per  pound,  but  a  little  more  than  the  duty  alone.  Thousands  of 
people  were  destitute,  and  had  it  not  been  for  tropical  fruits  and 
the  tropical  climate  starvation  would  have  been  theirs. 

The  following  report  from  Defuniak  Springs,  Fla.,  under  date  of 
March  i8th,  shows  that  the  friends  of  Cuba  were  active  in  supplying 
arms  and  ammunition : 

Arrival  of  Munitions  of  War. 

"  The  expedition  of  General  Enrique  Collazo,  which  sailed  from 
Tampa  about  two  weeks  ago,  was  met  at  an  appointed  location  in 
the  Gulf  by  a  steamer  whose  name  is  given  as  'Jose  Marti,'  having 
aboard  General  Collazo,  Major  Charles  Hernandez,  and  Miguel  Duque 
de  Estrada,  a  brother-in-law  of  Collazo.  The  main  body  consisted  of 
ninety-eight  able-bodied  men,  most  of  whom  are  prominent  in  society 
in  Havana.  The  steamer  will  immediately  sail  for  Cuba,  intending  to 
land  on  the  northern  coast,  near  Cardenas.  The  following  is  a  list  of 
the  munitions  of  war  taken : 

"  Five  hundred  Winchester  rifles,  500  Remington  rifles,  500  ma 
chetes,  two  rapid-firing  field-pieces,  and  a  large  number  of  cartridges, 
caps  and  considerable  dynamite.  Sufficient  accoutrements  and 
equipments  were  taken  for  five  hundred  men. 

"  The  Spanish  Consul  at  Tampa  was  fully  aware  of  the  move,  but 
on  account  of  it  being  made  on  Sunday  he  could  obtain  no  warrant 
to  arrest  the  members  of  the  expedition,  the  United  States  Marshal 
refusing  to  act  without  it." 

The  strength  of  the  insurgent  army  at  this  time  was  close  to 
43,000  men.  Cubans  themselves  estimated  the  number  of  men  in  the 
field  as  high  as  60,000;  but  even  if  unarmed  camp-followers,  men  in 


158       STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF   THE   CONFLICT. 

charge  of  provision  trains,  hospitals  and  camps  were  counted,  it  is 
doubtful  if  that  number  could  have  been  found  actually  in  service. 
There  were  thousands  of  Cubans  who  would  willingly  have  cast  their 
lot  with  the  patriot  army,  but  lack  of  arms  and  ammunition  prevented. 
The  insurgent  forces  operated,  as  a  rule,  in  zones  or  districts,  and 
were  organized  on  military  lines.  The  columns  of  Gomez,  Maceo, 
Lacret  and  Banderas  were,  however,  limited  to  no  one  province,  but 
passed  from  one  to  another,  under  direct  orders  of  Gomez. 

A  Hand-to-Hand  Encounter. 

News  was  received  at  Havana  of  an  important  battle  which  was 
fought  in  the  vicinity  of  Candelaria,  in  the  Province  of  Pinar  del  Rio. 
The  Government  troops  were  unable  to  drive  the  insurgents  back, 
and  retired  from  their  position  with  considerable  loss.  The  Spanish 
forces  were  commanded  by  General  Linares  and  Colonels  Inclan  and 
Hernandez,  and  the  insurgents  by  Maceo  and  Banderas.  The  fighting 
was  begun  on  a  line  parallel  with  the  roadway.  The  Spanish  forces 
deployed,  the  Tarifa  battalion,  a  section  of  the  Victoria  cavalry  and  a 
detachment  of  artillery  forming  the  vanguard  and  opening  fire  upon 
the  enemy. 

The  insurgents  returned  this  fire,  and  at  the  same  time  made  an 
attack  upon  the  rear-guard  of  the  Spaniards,  completely  encircling 
their  column.  Having  entirely  surrounded  the  Government  troops, 
the  insurgents  advanced  upon  the  artillerymen  with  machetes.  The 
latter  made  a  vigorous  resistance,  using  muskets  and  grenades  with 
such  effect  as  to  check  for  a  time  the  enemy's  advance ;  but,  with 
reinforcements,  a  second  charge  was  made  by  the  insurgents  and  a 
hand-to-hand  engagement  ensued.  The  battle  terminated  with  a 
bayonet  charge.  After  a  hot  fight,  lasting  two  hours,  the  Spaniards 
were  defeated,  losing  many  killed  and  wounded.  It  was  the  intention 
of  the  enemy  to  prevent  Colonel  Inclan  from  proceeding  to  Can 
delaria. 

The  official  report  of  the  fight  said  the  insurgents  suffered  a  tre 
mendous  loss.  The  Spaniards  lost  two  captains  and  fiv<  privates 
killed,  and  one  lieutenant,  four  sergeants  and  fifty-foui  soldiers 


STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF  THE   CONFLICT.       159 

wounded.  General  Linares  arrived  at  Candelaria  an  hour  alter  the 
conclusion  of  the  engagement,  when  he  reported  his  share  in  the 
battle. 

A  dispatch  from  Havana  to  the  Impartial  at  Madrid  said:  "  Captain- 
General  Weyler  feels  much  hindered  by  the  excessive  degree  of 
prudence  he  is  compelled  to  observe  during  the  discussion  in  the 
United  States  Congress  of  the  question  of  the  belligerency  of  the 
Cuban  insurgents,  which,  moreover,  prejudices  the  course  of  the 
war." 

Mr.  Armstrong,  Secretary  of  the  United  States  Legation  at 
Madrid,  said :  "  General  Weyler  is  certainly  in  a  very  embarrassing 
position.  He  is  trying  to  quell  an  insurrection  in  a  province  in 
which  90  per  cent,  of  the  population  are  opposed  to  him,  and  as  soon 
as  he  starts  a  friendly  nation  practically  tells  him  that,  while  he  may 
carry  on  the  war,  he  must  not  shoot  any  one." 

A  detachment  of  Spanish  troops  near  Cardenas,  province  9f 
Matanzas,  captured  151  cases  of  ammunition,  nine  cases  of  carbines, 
fourteen  medical  chests,  twenty  boxes  of  accoutrements  and  two 
boxes  of  cartridge  caps.  These  supplies,  evidently  intended  for  the 
insurgents,  were  found  in  three  boats,  which  apparently  belonged  to 
some  filibustering  steamer  off  the  coast. 

Senor  Dupuy  de  Lome,  Spanish  Minister  at  Washington,  re 
ceived  the  following  cablegram  on  March  20 : 

"  HAVANA,  March  20. — The  detachment  of  Veradero,  near  Carde 
nas,  captured  1 50  boxes  of  ammunition  for  Remington  and  Winchester 
rifles,  nine  boxes  of  cavalry  rifles,  fourteen  tin  boxes  of  medicines, 
twenty  knapsacks  covered  with  oil-cloth,  two  boxes  of  explosives  and 
three  boats.  (Signed)  WEYLER." 

The  Spanish  Minister  was  of  the  opinion  that  the  war  material 
mentioned  was  that  of  the  Colazzo  expedition,  which  was  shipped 
from  Cedar  Key  in  the  schooner  "  J.  S.  Mallory,"  captured  by  the 
United  States  revenue  cutters,  released  by  the  authorities  at  Tampa, 
and  afterwards  transshipped  somewhere  near  the  southern  coast  of 
Florida  to  the  steamer  "  Three  Friends." 

With  the  arrival  at  Philadelphia  of  the  schooner  *  J.  Manchester 


160       STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF   THE   CONFLICT. 

Haynes"  from  Havana,  came  an  interesting  account  of  the  state  of 
affairs  at  the  Cuban  capital.  For  two  months  the  schooner  lay  at 
Havana,  and  during  all  that  time  the  insurgents  tantalized  the  Span 
ish  soldiers,  who,  notwithstanding  the  vigorous  policy  that  was  sup 
posed  to  have  been  adopted,  seemed  to  be  unable  to  cope  with  the 
tactics  employed  by  the  patriots. 

Flames  from  Burning  Plantations. 

Ninety  thousand  soldiers  were  quartered  at  Havana.  During  the 
time  the  "  Haynes  "  was  at  that  port  the  insurgent  force,  numbering 
about  6000,  were  at  no  time  farther  away  from  the  capital  than  fifteen 
miles.  The  Spanish  soldiers  had  possession  of  the  city,  but  just 
outside  havoc  was  being  wrought  by  the  insurgents.  Flames  from 
burning  plantations  could  be  seen  at  all  times,  and  frequently  a  daring 
patriot  would  go  almost  into  the 'capital  and  destroy  property. 

The  Western  Railroad,  which  runs  from  Havana,  was  a  great 
sufferer.  No  sooner  were  the  rails  relaid  than  the  insurgents  tore 
them  up  again.  An  engineer,  more  daring  than  the  rest,  was  warned 
by  the  insurgents  not  to  venture  out  from  the  town,  but,  risking  it, 
he  was  captured,  and  when  the  "  Haynes"  left  Havana  nothing  further 
had  been  heard  concerning  him.  The  President  of  this  railroad  also 
lost  cattle,  which  were  in  the  western  part  of  the  city.  The  insur 
gents  some  weeks  before  raided  that  section  and  destroyed  a  large 
number  of  cows,  and  no  milk  could  be  had  for  several  days. 

Insurgent  spies  were  said  to  enter  Havana  frequently  to  find  out 
whatever  news  it  was  possible  to  learn,  especially  the  plans  of  the 
Spanish.  They  then  returned  to  the  country,  and  the  information 
thus  obtained  enabled  the  officers  to  direct  their  forces  in  a  manner 
that  baffbd  the  Government  troops. 

The  "  Haynes "  was  at  Havana  when  General  Weyler  arrived. 
War  was  to  be  pushed  to  a  speedy  end,  it  was  declared,  but  there 
was  no  sign  of  an  early  termination  of  hostilities.  When  the  United 
States  Senate  passed  the  resolutions  favoring  the  recognition  of  the 
insurgents  as  belligerents,  there  was  bitter  feeling  expressed  by  the 
Spaniards  against  this  country.  "  Why,"  said  one,  "  I  could  eat  ten 


STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF  THE   CONFLICT.       161 

of  those  Arnencans  myself!"     Somebody  remarked  that  it  would  be 
better  for  his  country  if  he  ate  ten  of  the  insurgents. 

The  insurgents  seemed  never  to  rest,  but  it  appeared  otherwise 
ivith  the  Spaniards.  A  small  band  of  the  insurgents  would  approach 
very  close  to  the  capita],  but  while  the  Government  troops  were  pur 
suing  them  the  time  for  eating  would  come.  This  settled  it.  The 
soldiers  stopped  to  eat  After  they  had  filled  their  stomachs  with 
things  good  to  eat  and  drink,  they  enjoyed  their  cigarettes.  By  this 
time  the  insurgents  ort  their  ponies  were  far  away.  This  is  quoted  to 
illustrate  the  activity  vf  one  and  the  apathy  of  the  other  of  the  con 
tending  forces. 

Capture  of  a  Band  of  Insurgents. 

Some  days  before  the  "  Haynes "  sailed  for  Philadelphia  several 
bands  of  insurgents  were  captured.  One  band,  numbering  seventeen, 
headed  by  a  negro  chief,  was  marched  through  the  town  in  the  charge 
of  a  large  regiment  of  soldiers.  The  soldiers  with  great  glee  kept 
swinging  their  swords  near  the  chief's  head.  The  entire  band  was 
taken  to  Morro  Castle,  where,  it  was  believed,  the  chief  would  be 
shot.  A  Spanish  commandant,  who  had  been  found  giving  provi 
sions  to  insurgents,  was  executed  in  Morro  Castle.  An  American 
sailor,  who  had  been  three  years  in  Morro  Castle,  was  released 
severax  weeks  before.  He  had  been  put  there  for  knocking  down  a 
policeman.  The  sailor  was  lounging  around  the  docks  when  the 
"  Haynes  "  departed. 

A  day  or  so  before  the  schooner  sailed  from  Havana  an  expedition 
was  said  to  have  been  landed  at  Cabanas,  a  town  to  the  westward  of 
the  capital.  The  gunboats  did  not  seem  to  be  able  to  prevent  the 
landing  of  filibusters,  who  found  it  comparatively  easy  to  get  ashore 
on  the  coast  from  Santa  Cruz  to  Havana.  It  was  stated  that  property- 
owners  and  merchants  were  openly  professing  sympathy  with  the 
Spaniards,  fearing  that  all  that  belonged  to  them  would  be  confiscated 
if  they  appeared  to  favor  the  other  side,  but  when  the  turning-point 
came,  it  was  believed  all  would  actively  support  the  insurgents. 

Owing  to  the  destruction  of  the  plantations  very  little  new  sugar 
11 


162      STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF  THE   CONFLICT. 

was  coming  into  Havana  from  the  country  districts.  There  was  a  lot 
of  old  sugar  in  the  warehouses,  but  this  the  people  did  not  care  to 
send  out  because  no  new  material  was  coming  in. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  expedition  of  the  steamer  "  Three 
Friends,"  of  Jacksonville,  Florida.  We  here  give  the  complete  story 
of  the  trip.  The  steamer,  in  command  of  Captain  Napoleon  B. 
Broward,  arrived  at  Jacksonville  on  March  iSth,  having  succeeded  in 
landing  in  Cuba  General  Enrique  Collazo,  Major  Charles  Hernandez, 
and  Duke  Estrada,  besides  fifty-four  men  taken  off  the  schooner 
"  Ardell,"  from  Tampa,  and  the  entire  cargo  of  arms  and  ammunition 
of  the  schooner  "  Mallory,"  from  Cedar  Key.  It  was  by  long  odds 
the  most  important  expedition  that  has  set  out  from  this  country,  and 
the  Cubans  at  Jacksonville,  when  they  learned  that  the  "  Three 
Friends  "  had  safely  fulfilled  her  mission,  shouted  "  Viva  Cuba  !  " 
until  they  were  hoarse. 

Large  Cargo  of  Arms. 

They  declared  that  it  would  change  the  character  of  the  whole 
war,  as  the  unarmed  men  would  now  be  armed  and  those  without 
ammunition  would  be  supplied,  and  that  Maceo,  who  had  before  been 
wary  and  cautious,  would  be  more  aggressive  than  he  had  ever  been 
before.  The  cargo  of  arms  landed  by  the  "  Three  Friends  "  and 
the  "  Mallory  "  was  as  follows  :  750,000  rounds  of  cartridges  ;  1,200 
rifles  ;  2,100  machetes;  400  revolvers,  besides  stores,  reloading  tools, 
etc. 

The  "  Three  Friends  "  met  the  "  Mallory  "  at  Alligator  Key.  The 
(<  Ardell  "  had  just  finished  transferring  the  men  to  her.  While  they 
were  rendezvoused  there  behind  the  pines  in  a  deep  coral-walled 
creek  three  big  Spanish  men-of-war  steamed  slowly  by,  but  they  did 
not  discover  that  there  was  anything  suspicious-looking  in  shore, 
although  with  a  glass  men  could  be  seen  in  their  look-outs  scanning 
the  horizon,  as  well  as  searching  the  shore.  Sunday,  about  noon,  no 
vessels  being  in  sight,  the  "  Three  Friends  "  took  in  tow  the  "  Mal 
lory  "  and  steamed  southward  under  a  good  head  of  steam. 

The  "  Three  Friends  "  is  a  powerful  tug,  and  by  Monday  night 


STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF  THE   CONFLICT.       163 

was  close  enough  to  the  Cuban  shore  to  hear  the  breakers.  Several 
ship  lights  to  the  west  were  seen,  one  of  which  was  evidently  a 
Spanish  man-  of-war,  for  she  had  a  search  light  at  her  bow,  and  was 
sweeping  the  waves  with  it,  but  the  "  Three  Friends  "  was  a  long 
way  off  and  had  no  light,  and  so  was  out  of  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Spaniard. 

Shadowed  by  Detectives. 

At  ten  o'clock  that  night,  by  the  aid  of  a  naphtha  launch  and  two 
big  surf-boats,  which  had  been  taken  out  of  Jacksonville,  the  "  Three 
Friends  "  landed  the  men  and  ammunition  from  her  hold,  and  from 
that  of  the  "  Mallory."  It  took  four  and  a  half  hours  to  complete 
the  job.  There  were  hundreds  of  men  on  shore  to  assist,  and  they 
did  it  silently,  appreciating  the  peril  of  the  undertaking. 

The  Cubans  on  shore  recognized  General  Collazo  immediately,  and 
no  words  can  describe  their  joy  upon  seeing  him.  He  is  a  veteran 
of  Cuban  wars,  and  is  one  whom  Spain  fears.  In  fact,  it  is  known 
that  during  his  sojourn  in  Florida  he  was  shadowed  by  detectives, 
who  had  been  instructed  to  spare  no  expense  to  keep  Collazo  f:  o  n 
reaching  Cuba.  When  it  was  whispered  that  Collazo  was  really 
among  them,  they  seemed  not  to  believe  their  ears,  but  came  forward 
and  looked,  and,  seeing  that  there  was  really  no  mistake,  threw  up 
their  arms  and  wept.  Major  Charles  Hernandez  and  Duke  Estrada 
were  also  enthusiastically  welcomed. 

It  was  reported  that  night  that  Maceo  had  received  the  arms  of  the 
first  expedition  that  set  forth  three  days  before  the  "  Three  Friends '' 
landed.  They  were  not  from  the  "  Commodore,"  for  they  reported 
that  they  were  now  on  the  lookout  for  that  vessel.  They  said,  too, 
that  at  the  end  of  the  week  four  expeditions  were  afloat.  Two,  in 
cluding  the  "  Three  Friends,"  had  landed,  and  two  more  were  on  the 
way.  Tuesday  morning,  as  the  "  Three  Friends  "  was  returning,  she 
sighted  a  steamer  that  answered  to  the  description  of  the  "  Commo 
dore."  She  was  headed  southward,  and  pushing  along  apparently 
at  the  rate  of  fifteen  knots  an  hour.  This  vessel  has  an  engine  capa 
ble  of  driving  a  ship  twice  her  size,  and  has  a  speed  of  seventeen 
knots  an  hour. 


164       STIRRING  INCIDENTS   OF  THE  CONFLICT. 

On  Wednesday,  March  3,  General  Collazo,  Major  Hernandez  and 
Duke  Estrada  left  Tampa,  and  reached  Jacksonville  the  next  day. 
They  remained  secreted  at  the  house  of  a  Cuban  sympathizer  until 
the  1 2th,  General  Collazo  knowing  that  detectives  had  been  on  his 
trail  for  weeks.  They  intended  to  leave  on  the  night  of  March  5th, 
but  their  departure  was  delayed,  on  account  of  the  capture  of  the 
"  Mallory,"  until  the  1 2th.  After  release,  the  "Mallory  "  sailed  with 
a  part  of  the  arms  seized  at  Cedar  Keys  six  months  before,  some  on 
an  island,  some  in  a  house,  and  some  that  had  been  jettisoned  and 
had  been  released  through  the  efforts  of  H.  S.  Rubens,  general 
counsel  of  the  Cubans.  The  schooner  "  Ardell "  left  Tampa  the 
same  night  with  fifty-four  men  and  Brigadier-General  Vasquez,  a 
brother-in-law  of  General  Collazo. 

Escape  of  the  Vessel. 

Five  tons  of  the  "  Mallory's  "  arms  and  ammunition  were  taken  from 
her  at  Tampa  and  shipped  to  Jacksonville,  in  a  sealed  car,  with  instruc 
tions  not  to  open  until  called  for.  When  the  car  arrived  in  Jackson 
ville,  one  of  the  clerks  of  the  railroad,  not  knowing  of  the  orders, 
opened  the  car  and  unloaded  it  in  the  freight  depot  of  the  Florida 
Central  &  Peninsular  Railroad,  and  this  discovery  led  to  all  sorts  of 
rumors.  It  was  known  that  the  boxes  contained  arms,  as  they  were 
heavy,  and  they  were  labelled  "  Colt's  Fire  Arms  Company."  They 
were  promptly  removed  to  the  warehouse  of  the  President  of  the 
Friends  of  Cuba  Club  of  Jacksonville. 

The  arms  remained  in  this  warehouse  until  the  night  of  the  I2th 
instant.  Meanwhile  the  "  Mallory  "  sailed  from  Tampa  with  the  re^ 
mainder  of  the  cargo  to  Alligator  Key,  the  appointed  rendezvous. 
Alligator  Key  is  about  100  miles  south  of  Biscayne  Bay.  It  is  a 
part  of  the  Florida  reef,  and,  being  well  wooded,  is  an  excellent  place 
for  the  purpose.  There  the  "  Mallory  "  was  joined  by  the  "Ardell," 
where  the  two  waited  for  the  "Three  Friends." 

This  vessel  left  the  dock  of  the  Alabama  Coal  Company  in  Jackson 
ville  at  8  o'clock  on  the  night  of  Thursday,  the  1 2th  inst,  and  pro 
ceeded  to  the  dock,  where  she  loaded  with  arms,  ammunition  and 


STIRRING   INCIDENTS   OF  THE   CONFLICT.       165 

dynamite.  At  10  o'clock  she  sailed  for  the  mouth  of  the  river,  but 
stopped  at  Bucki's  on  the  way  and  took  aboard  General  Collazo  and 
his  party,  and  A.  W.  Barra,  who  had  driven  out  in  carriages  from  the 
place  where  they  were  secreted.  At  this  point  a  large  naphtha  launch 
was  taken  on,  as  well  as  two  large  iron  surf-boats,  to  be  used  in 
landing  the  arms,  etc. 

The  steamer  proceeded  out  to  the  bar  that  night,  and  at  daylight 
of  Friday,  the  I3th,  she  proceeded  down  the  coast.  She  arrived  al 
Alligator  Key  Sunday  morning,  and  then  took  in  tow  the  "  Mallory." 


CHAPTER  XV. 
Pathetic  Stories  of  the  War. 

ON  the  4th  of  March,  Dr.  Delgado,  an  American  citizen  residing 
in  Cuba,  was  wounded  by  brutal  Spanish  soldiers.  There  was 
a  ghastly  gash  made  by  a  machete  across  the  side  of  his 
head,  extending  downward  to  the  throat.  It  was  sewed  up  by  the 
doctors.  The  bullet-hole  through  his  side  was  the  most  painful. 

He  had  lived  in  New  York,  and  had  begun  practicing  medicine 
there  as  assistant  to  Dr.  Alexander  Mott.  He  came  to  Cuba  in  1876 
to  claim  property  which  belonged  to  him  by  inheritance.  He 
grieved  a  great  deal  over  the  young  men  who  were  killed  on  the  day 
of  the  massacre,  when  he  escaped  so  miraculously  to  tell  this  story. 

A  newspaper  correspondent  heard  the  story  of  the  butchery  from 
Delgado's  old  father,  who  speaks  good  English.  The  old  man  was 
still  suffering  from  the  effects  of  the  weeks  which  he  spent  in  the 
damp  cane  fields  with  his  wounded  boy.  Frequently,  as  he  told  the 
awful  story,  his  face  was  convulsed  with  suffering,  and  tears  flowed 
from  his  eyes.  In  his  trembling  hands  he  held  the  blood-stained 
bullet  which  fell  from  his  side  when  they  removed  his  garments.  He 
said  that  he  would  bring  it  himself  to  Mr.  Cleveland  and  would  ask 
the  President  if  there  was  no  protection  for  Americans  in  Cuba. 

*'  Our  plantation,"  he  said,  "  is  called  Dolores,  the  old  name  being 
Morales.  It  was  about  half-past  one  on  the  4th  day  of  March  when 
a  regiment  of  rebels,  about  400  or  500  men,  invaded  the  place. 
They  told  us  that  they  were  Maceo's  men,  and  soon  after  them  came 
Maceo,  with  twenty-four  women,  sixteen  whites  and  eight  mulattoes. 
I  understood  that  these  women  were  the  wives  of  the  officers. 

"  Maceo  shook  hands  politely  and  asked  if  I  would  allow  them  to 
take  breakfast  with  us.  Of  course  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  to 
say  yes,  and  the  men  spread  themselves  over  about  seventy  acres  of 
166 


PATHETIC   STORIES   OF  THE  WAR.  167 

the  plantation,  the  officers  and  the  ladies  coming  into  the  house. 
They  had  provisions  with  them,  but  desired  to  cook  and  serve  them, 
which  they  did.  They  sat  down  at  the  table,  and  were  soon  joking 
and  laughing. 

"  Suddenly  we  heard  rifle-shots.  Hernandez  yelled  to  his  wife  to 
hand  him  his  machete.  Then  all  went  out  and  found  that  the  firing  had 
come  from  what  seemed  to  be  an  advance  guard  of  the  Spanish  troops. 
There  was  some  skirmishing  at  a  distance,  and  the  insurgents  rode 
away.  They  did  not  wish  to  fight  on  the  plantation,  as  they  were  on 
another  mission. 

Bullets  Cause  Alarm. 

"  The  Spaniards  had  fired  the  cane,  thinking  there  were  other 
insurgents  hiding  in  it.  Spanish  bullets  rattled  on  the  tiled  roof  of 
the  house,  and  farm-hands  who  were  ploughing  back  of  the  house  got 
frightened  and  wished  to  come  in.  So  the  doors  and  windows  were 
unbarred,  and  six  men  and  three  women,  wives  of  the  farm-hands, 
came  in. 

"  After  a  while  I  opened  the  window  to  see  how  matters  stood  and 
saw  two  cavalrymen  and  a  captain,  with  two  soldiers.  My  son  and 
the  farm-hands  went  out  toward  the  burning  cane  in  an  attempt  to 
save  some  oxen  that  were  near  the  cane.  When  the  captain  saw 
them  he  shouted  :  'Who  are  those  people  ?' 

"  I  told  him  they  were  our  workmen,  and  he  then  gave  orders  to 
clear  the  house.  They  rushed  their  horses  right  through  the  house, 
the  captain  leading  them.  I  took  out  my  American  papers  and 
showed  them  to  him  to  prove  that  I  was  a  peaceful  citizen. 

"  '  They  are  the  worst  documents  you  can  have,'  said  the  captain. 
They  answered  my  son  in  the  same  way,  and  the  captain  repeated 
the  order  to  clear  the  house.  Then  they  ordered  us  to  march  on  as 
prisoners  and  told  the  women  to  stay  back.  My  son  asked  them  to 
let  me  stay  back  with  the  women,  and  they  allowed  me  to  do  so.  Of 
course,  the  women  were  panic-stricken  and  screaming  when  they  saw 
their  husbands  taken  away. 

"  We  heard  shots  and  then  a  second  volley.     One  of  the  women 


168  PATHETIC   STORIES   OF  THE  WAR. 

cried  out :  '  They  have  killed  my  husband  !'  Her  words  were  true. 
After  about  three  hours  I  ventured  out,  and  I  saw  coming  toward  the 
house  the  old  farm-hand,  a  man  of  about  70.  He  seemed  to  be  hold 
ing  a  red  handkerchief  over  his  arm,  but  when  I  got  nearer  I  saw 
that  it  was  covered  with  blood.  He  cried  out  when  he  saw  me : — 

"  '  They  have  killed  them  !' 

"  '  My  son  !     My  son  !'  I  cried. 

"  '  He  was  the  first  one  that  they  killed/  he  said. 

"  I  took  the  man  in  the  house  and  tried  to  bind  his  arm,  which  had 
been  shattered  by  a  bullet  I  endeavored  to  pacify  the  women,  and 
told  them  that  they  should  go  to  the  nearest  neighbors  for  help. 
The  two  white  farm-hands,  who  had  been  hiding  in  the  cane,  then 
came  over  toward  the  house,  while  I  was  trying  to  quiet  the  women. 
They  were  afraid  to  move,  panic-stricken,  and  would  not  go  for  help. 

"  Suddenly  a  young  man  dashed  up  to  the  house  at  full  gallop. 
He  drew  his  revolver  and  told  the  farm-hands  to  get  cots  and  pil 
lows  and  medicine  to  bring  to  the  missing  men  in  case  any  of  them 
should  be  still  alive.  He  said  he  would  shoot  them  if  they  diso^ 
beyed,  and  they  did  as  he  directed.  They  made  up  a  litter,  and  we 
walked  on  till  we  found  the  place  where  the  men  lay  in  a  pool  oi 
blood. 

"  I  looked  into  my  son's  face  and  cried  out:  '  My  son,  my  son.'  He 
opened  his  eyes  and  whispered,  '  Father,  they  have  killed  us.'  " 

The  old  gentleman  broke  down  in  a  passion  of  weeping  at  these 
recollections  of  this  awful  scene.  He  led  me  in  to  the  bedside  of  his 
son,  who  then  told  me  his  story  of  the  butchery. 

"  They  marched  us  along,"  he  said,  "  and  I  spoke  to  the  General : 
'  General,  I  am  an  American  citizen,  and  here  are  my  papers  from  Mr. 
Williams.' 

"  '  They  are  the  worst  things  you  could  have,'  he  said.  '  I  wish  the 
Consul  were  here  himself,  so  that  I  could  treat  him  thus/  and  he 
struck  me  three  times  in  the  face.  Then  he  sounded  the  bugle  calling 
the  volunteers,  and  ordered  us  taken  to  the  rear-guard.  Of  course, 
we  knew  that  this  meant  death.  They  tied  us  in  a  line  with  our 
hands  pinioned.  I  knew  the  sergeant  and  said  to  him  :— 


PATHETIC   STORIES   OF  THE   WAR.  169 

" '  Is  it  possible  that  you  are  going  to  kill  me  ?  ' 

"  '  How  can  I  help  it  ?  '  he  answered.  Then  the  order  was  given 
and  the  soldiers  rushed  upon  us  with  machetes.  Their  knives  cut  our 
ropes  as  we  tried  to  dodge  the  blows,  and  the  soldiers  fired  two 
volleys  at  us. 

"  The  first  shot  grazed  my  head,  and  I  dropped  to  the  ground  as 
though  dead.  The  old  farm-hand  also  threw  himself  to  the  earth. 
This  act  saved  both  our  lives. 

"  The  other  four  men  who  tried  to  fight  were  killed.  At  the  second 
discharge  a  bullet  pierced  my  side.  When  we  all  lay  as  though  dead 
they  came  up  and  turned  us  over  and  searched  our  pockets — mine 
first,  of  course,  as  I  was  better  dressed  than  the  other  men.  One  of 
the  soldiers  noticed  that  my  breast  moved  and  shouted  out :  '  This 
fellow  is  not  dead  yet.  Give  him  another  blow,'  and  he  raised  his 
machete  and  gave  me  a  slash  across  the  face  and  throat.  Then  I  be 
came  unconscious." 

Secreted  in  a  Cane  Field. 

Delgado's  father  took  up  the  story  as  his  son  left  ofT:  "  The  brave 
young  man  who  brought  us  to  the  place  where  my  son  was,  now 
jumped  from  his  horse  and  gave  orders  to  the  men  to  lift  my  son  on 
the  litter,  as  we  found  he  was  the  only  man  still  living.  We  put  a 
pillow  under  his  head,  and  the  two  farm  hands  lifted  the  litter  and 
carried  it  into  the  cane  field. 

"  Meanwhile,  the  women  relatives  of  the  dead  men  came  up  and 
began  to  wail  and  cry.  The  young  man,  whom  we  afterward  found 
was  an  insurgent  leader,  told  them  they  should  be  quiet,  as  their 
lamentations  would  bring  the  Spanish  troops  upon  the  scene  again. 

"  Then  the  litter  was  carried  into  the  cane  field.  This  young  man 
said  :  '  You  must  immediately  write  to  the  American  Consul.  I  will 
furnish  you  with  a  messenger,  and  you  may  rest  safely  in  this  cane 
field  with  your  son.  I  will  put  a  guard  of  500  men  around  it  so  that 
they  cannot  burn  it,  as  they  do  when  they  know  people  are  hiding  in 
the  cane/ 

"  For  five  days  I  was  in  the  cane  field  with  my  son.     It  rained  upon 


170  PATHETIC  STORIES   OF  THE  WAR. 

us,  and  then  I  put  the  pillows  over  my  son's  chest,  in  order  to  protect 
him.  I  suffered  greatly  from  rheumatism.  Only  the  young  man 
appeared  and  said  that  General  Maceo  had  sent  a  guard  to  escort  me 
back  to  my  home. 

<(  With  my  boy  we  were  taken  there  and  guard  kept  around  our 
house.  Then  the  messenger  came  back  from  the  Consul,  and  I  came 
on  to  Havana  to  see  General  Weyler,  who  had  my  son  brought  here 
to  the  city." 

On  the  Sunday  after  Delgado  was  borne  down  the  Prado  on  a 
covered  litter,  escorted  by  a  gorgeous  Red  Cross  detachment  in 
Spanish  uniform.  There  was  so  much  theatrical  display  and  pomp 
about  the  procession  that  it  looked  very  much  like  a  clever  ruse  to 
impress  the  newspaper  correspondents,  who,  it  was  known,  were  in 
possession  of  all  the  details  of  the  butchery. 

No  Protection  for  Americans. 

Here  is  the  story  of  the  three  brothers  Farrar,  all  American 
citizens  and  joint  owners  of  the  coffee  plantation  Estrella,  in  Havana 
province,  near  Alquizar.  It  does  not  differ  greatly  from  the  experi 
ence  of  many  other  owners  of  estates  in  the  interior,  but  as  these 
men  happened  to  be  Americans  and  had  made  sworn  statements 
protesting  against  the  excesses  committed  by  Spanish  troops,  and 
demanding  damages,  the  affair  became  one  of  official  record,  and 
cannot  be  brushed  away  with  a  general  denial.  The  papers  were 
placed  in  the  hands  of  Consul-General  Williams,  and  Miguel  Farrar, 
one  of  the  brothers,  furnished  a  copy  of  the  statement.  It  is  as 
follows : 

"On  Saturday,  March  2ist,  the  dwelling-house  of  the  coffee  plan 
tation  Estrella  was  the  object  of  wanton  attack  by  the  column  of 
General  Bernat,  operating  in  that  region.  The  said  building  received 
cannon  shots  of  grape  and  canister,  breaking  the  door,  one  window, 
several  piazza  columns,  and  greatly  endangering  the  lives  of  the 
families  of  my  brothers,  Don  Tasio  and  Don  Luis  Farrar,  both  Amer 
ican  citizens,  the  wife  of  the  former  being  enceinte.  There  were  two 
small  children  in  the  house.  From  my  information  it  appears  that 


PATHETIC   STORIES    OF   THE   WAR.  171 

the  troops  mentioned  had  sustained  fire  with  a  rebel  band  in  Paz 
plantation,  a  quarter  league  from  Estrella. 

"  The  rebels  having  fled  to  Pedroso  and  Buena  Esperanza  planta 
tions,  the  government  troops  advanced  toward  Estrella,  in  quite  an 
opposite  direction  from  that  taken  by  the  rebels.  On  arriving  at  the 
borders  of  Estrella  plantation,  the  Spanish  columns  began  firing 
cannon  at  the  dwelling-house,  and  it  was  immediately  invaded  by 
soldiers,  who  ransacked  it,  carrying  off  from  wardrobes  all  jewelry 
and  men's  clothing  which  they  contained,  as  well  as  a  sum  of  about 
$60  in  money.  They  also  took  away  everything  found  in  workmen's 
dwellings,  arresting  at  the  same  time  twelve  of  the  occupants,  whom 
they  conducted  to  Alquizar  as  insurgents.  It  should  be  observed 
that  the  cannon  were  fired  solely  at  the  dwelling-house  of  the  owners, 
although  there  were  twenty  other  buildings  on  the  plantation,  and 
the  place  was  entirely  clear  of  insurgents. 

Immediate  Indemnity  Demanded. 

"  In  consideration  of  all  the  above,  and  particularly  on  account  of 
the  danger  to  which  his  relatives  were  exposed,  and  also  for  the 
unjustifiable  looting  on  the  part  of  the  regular  troops  in  the  service 
of  a  constituted  government,  the  undersigned  does  most  solemnly 
protest  and  asks  an  immediate  indemnity  for  the  damage  suffered, 
which  he  values  at  $5,000,  as  all  work  has  been  stopped  on  the  plan 
tation  and  everything  abandoned." 

The  Spanish  official  account  of  what  happened  on  the  Estrella  plan 
tation  was  as  follows :  "  The  column  of  General  Bernat  found  several 
bands  of  rebels  who  fortified  the  houses  of  the  coffee  plantation  Estrella, 
where  they  were  beaten,  and  by  artillery  shots  and  cavalry  charges  the 
enemy  was  dislodged  from  his  position.  Twelve  prisoners  were  cap 
tured,  besides  arms,  ammunition  and  instruments  to  destroy  railroad 
tracks.  It  is  believed  from  the  trails  of  blood  seen  in  the  place  that 
the  rebels  had  many  dead  and  wounded.  All  the  prisoners  will  be 
summarily  court-martialed." 

On  March  25th  twenty  prisoners,  taken  in  the  operations  around 
Artemisia  and  Alquizas,  arrived  in  Havana.  On  being  escorted 


172  PATHETIC   STORIES   OF  THE   WAR. 

through  Obispo  street  to  the  palace  they  were  followed  by  a  con 
stantly  increasing  mob,  who  shouted:  "Viva  Espana,"  and  "  Death 
to  the  rebels." 

The  men  were  kicked,  beaten,  and  one  had  his  head  cut  open  by  a 
flying  missile.  It  was  enough  to  make  decent  blood  boil  to  see  the 
poor  wretches,  with  arms  pinioned  and  a  mob  at  their  heels  shouting 
for  their  blood.  By  the  time  the  prisoners  reached  the  Palace  the 
mob  numbered  between  200  and  300.  General  Ahumada,  the  secundo 
cabo,  or  second  chief  of  the  government,  came  out  and  ordered  the 
guards  to  disperse  the  mob. 

A  Heroine  who  Fought  for  Cuba. 

An  authentic  account  is  'given  of  a  heroine  who  fell  in  defense  of 
the  Cuban  cause.  This  woman  was  Senorita  Matilde  Agramonte,  of 
Havana,  who,  after  marching  and  fighting  with  Maceo's  soldiers,  fell 
dead  at  last,  riddled  with  Spanish  bullets. 

Matilde  was  the  last  representative  of  one  of  the  most  widely 
known  of  old-stock  Cuban  families.  Her  ancestors  were  among  the 
first  Spanish  settlers  of  the  Island.  In  every  insurrection  that  has 
occurred  on  the  Island  men  of  the  Agramonte  and  Varona  families 
have  been  found  in  the  field.  The  wealth  of  the  family  has  been 
counted  by  millions. 

When  uncles  and  brothers  of  Senorita  Matilde  followed  General 
Maceo  into  battle  they  left  Matilde  on  the  ranch,  in  charge.  The 
girl  set  out  on  a  visit  to  Ciego  de  Avila.  Upon  her  return  she  found 
nothing  left  but  ashes  and  the  bodies  of  the  servants.  She  decided 
to  join  the  army  of  General  Maceo,  and  so  the  first  female  soldier  to 
bear  arms  against  Spain  was  enlisted. 

The  poor  girl  never  saw  but  one  battle.  That  was  at  the  planta 
tion  of  Olayita,  in  Quemado  de  Guines,  province  of  Santa  Clara. 
The  patriots  were  overwhelmingly  outnumbered.  To  protect  the 
main  body  in  retreat,  Maceo  called  for  volunteers,  who  should  remain 
behind  and  draw  the  fire  of  the  Spanish. 

Among  those  who  stepped  forward  was  Matilde.  They  carried 
out  General  Maceo's  plan,  but  forfeited  their  own  lives.  Matilde 


PATHETIC   STORIES   OF  THE  WAR.  173 

stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  the  soldiers  and  fired  her  rifle.  She 
was  one  of  the  last  to  fall. 

The  arrest  of  suspects  continued  during  March  at  such  a  rate  that 
the  prisons  were  full,  and  epidemics  among  the  prisoners  were  feared. 
The  Remedios  prison  was  in  a  terrible  sanitary  condition,  with  200 
prisoners  in  quarters  which  were  very  much  overcrowded. 

At  Sagua  there  were  226  prisoners,  and  there  was  room  for  no 
more.  The  same  state  of  affairs  prevailed  at  many  other  points. 
The  decrees  of  General  Weyler  were  enforced  with  great  harshness 
against  the  Cubans  supposed  to  have  Cuban  sympathies.  A  state  of 
panic,  as  a  result  of  these  decrees  and  the  action  of  troops,  prevailed 
in  all  portions  of  the  Island  occupied  by  the  Spanish. 

Where  were  the  Prisoners? 

The  peaceable  citizens  had  no  fear  of  the  insurgents,  who  followed 
more  humane  methods.  It  was  absolutely  impossible  for  corre 
spondents  to  learn  the  whereabouts  of  the  prisoners  of  war  who  were 
reported  to  be  taken  in  the  battles  fought.  The  subordinate  Spanish 
ofjficers  said  that  secret  orders  had  been  given  to  take  no  prisoners. 
The  Cubans  released  all  the  Spanish  soldiers  captured.  The  Span 
ish  gave  no  quarter.  So  many  plantation  employes  and  managers 
were  butchered  that  the  men  dared  not  remain  on  the  plantations, 
and  the  women  were  left  in  charge  of  them.  The  men  hid  in  the 
woods  at  the  approach  of  the  Spanish  column. 

Here  is  the  proclamation  of  General  March,  commanding  the 
Third  Division  of  the  First  Army  Corps,  issued  from  headquarters  at 
Holguin,  Santiago  Province : 

"  Be  it  known  that  the  forces  operating  in  the  territory  of  this  divi 
sion  have  orders  to  fire,  without  giving  the  signal  to  halt,  on  any 
person  who  travels  at  night  on  the  roads  outside  the  towns  and  ham 
lets,  and  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  accidents  this  is  hereby  pub 
lished  for  general  knowledge."  This  illustrates  the  kind  of  war 
Spain  was  giving  Cuba.  Even  the  Spanish  officers  were  disgusted  at 
the  methods  used. 

Under  date  of  March   26th,  it  was  reported  that  another  blunder 


174  PATHETIC   STORIES   OF  THE  WAR. 

on  the  part  of  two  Spanish  commanders  had  once  more  led  to  fatal 
results.  The  catastrophe  which  occurred  at  El  Cano  was  to  a  great 
extent  due  to  the  darkness  of  the  night,  but  now  news  came  of  columns 
mistaking  each  other  for  enemies  in  broad  daylight,  and  continuing  to 
fight  until  thirty  men  had  been  killed  and  over  one  hundred  wounded. 
With  an  absence  of  good  taste,  and  even  of  common  sense,  this 
unfortunate  affair  was  made  a  subject  for  self-glorification  in  the 
newspapers  of  Havana.  They  pointed  exultingly  to  the  proof 
afforded  of  the  extreme  valor  and  discipline  of  their  army,  which 
enabled  them  in  so  short  a  time  to  inflict  such  heavy  damage.  With 
out  desiring  to  detract  from  the  acknowledged  courage  of  the 
Spaniards,  it  may  be  stated  that  this  made  the  fourth  time  within 
a  few  months  that  loyal  battalions  fired  upon  their  own  men,  This 
argued,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  an  absence  of  coolness  and  judgment, 
the  qualities  most  essential  to  a  good  commanding  officer. 

His  Own  Brother  Among  the  Slain. 

The  manner  of  carrying  on  the  campaign  against  the  insurgents 
consisted  in  strong  columns,  which  were  supposed  to  be  continually 
on  the  advance.  Three  of  these  were  kept  within  sound  of  shot  of 
one  another,  while  each  leader  had  orders  to  attack  the  enemy  any 
where,  regardless  of  superiority  of  numbers  or  position,  and  to  rely 
upon  the  support  of  the  nearest  troops.  Inexperienced  generals  and 
colonels  were  not  capable  of  bringing  this  to  a  successful  issue. 

On  the  very  first  alarm  they  commenced  an  engagement  either  at 
long  range  or  without  proper  investigation,  to  find  subsequently  to 
their  dismay  that  they  had  actually  been  forwarding  the  cause  of 
Cuban  independence.  Some  sad  stories  were  told  of  the  scenes  that 
followed  upon  the  battle  at  Santa  Rosa.  One  soldier,  while  engaged 
in  succoring  the  wounded  of  the  opposing  column,  discovered  his 
own  brother  among  the  slain. 

But  in  a  fatal  civil  war  such  episodes  are  necessarily  of  frequent 
occurrence.  A  colonel  of  the  Guardia  Civil,  stationed  at  Cienfuegos, 
had  two  sons  who,  notwithstanding  the  fact  of  their  being  Spaniards, 
were  strongly  imbued  with  Cuban  sympathy.  They  joined  the  army 


PATHETIC   STORIES   OF   THE   WAR.  175 

of  Gomez,  and  in  the  first  action  in  which  they  took  part  one  of 
them  was  killed  by  the  regiment  commanded  by  his  father.  One 
might  hear  over  and  over  again  of  similar  political  differences  in 
families  throughout  the  Island. 

A  merchant  of  large  fortune  in  Havana  sent  his  eldest  boys  to  the 
United  States  to  keep  them  out  of  harm's  way.  Within  three  weeks 
they  had  returned  with  an  expedition,  and  had  been  initiated  among 
the  insurgents.  One  still  remained,  Benjamin  ;  but  as  he  was  only 
thirteen  years  of  age,  no  apprehensions  were  entertained  on  his 
account.  He  was  missing,  however,  one  morning,  and  the  anxious 
Spanish  father  hurried  forthwith  to  General  Weyler  to  report  the  cir 
cumstances  and  his  fears  that  his  son  had  taken  to  the  woods.  Mes 
sages  were  immediately  dispatched  in  all  directions,  with  the  result 
that  the  juvenile  warrior  was  captured  asleep  by  the  roadside,  twenty 
miles  from  the  capital,  covered  with  dust  and  completely  worn  out  by 
his  long  tramp. 

A  Singular  Incident. 

From  these  dreary  records  of  battle  and  spoliation  it  is  a  relief  to 
turn  to  an  incident  which  took  place  at  Bolondron,  in  Matanzas, 
though  it  can  hardly  be  regarded  as  either  admirable  or  edifying. 
It  appears  that  sparrows  in  Cuba  are  looked  upon  as  loyal  subjects, 
and  that  good  Spaniards  have  a  respect  for  them  which  we  are  far 
from  sharing  in  the  United  States.  Now,  there  is  a  native  bird 
called  a  pitirri,  a  very  desperate  character,  who,  from  his  absolute 
contempt  for  European  prejudices,  may  almost  be  considered  as  an 
insurgent. 

On  the  I Qth  of  March,  it  is  well  to  be  accurate,  an  ill-conditioned 
pitirri  got  into  an  argument  with  a  select  flock  of  sparrows,  and  some 
very  unparliamentary  language  was  exchanged.  In  the  investigation 
into  the  matter  it  has  not  been  fully  decided  as  to  what  was  the  origin 
of  the  discussion ;  but  it  is  supposed  to  have  had  reference  either  to 
the  elections  or  the  question  of  belligerency.  Whatever  it  was,  how 
ever,  the  sparrows  called  upon  the  pitirri  to  retract  or  come  on. 

He  selected  the  latter  alternative,  and  for  a  few  minutes  there  was 
little  to  be  seen  but  a  confused  mass  of  plumage  and  dust.  Though 


176  PATHETIC   STORIES   OF  THE   WAR. 

vastly  outnumbered,  the  Cuban  champion  was  game  to  the  back 
bone,  and,  though  he  carries  a  white  feather  or  two  in  his  genera' 
make-up,  there  was  none  in  his  disposition.  The  consequence  was 
that  courage  and  skill,  as  they  deserve  to  do,  triumphed.  Six  spar 
rows  were  stretched  in  the  cold  embrace  of  death  upon  the  earth, 
while  their  companions  withdrew  to  carry  the  melancholy  tidings  to 
the  widows  and  orphans. 

Some  volunteers  had  witnessed  the  action  from  a  distance,  as  is 
their  custom,  when  they  witness  it  at  all,  and  their  souls  were  wroth 
within  them.  Reinforcements  were  hastily  summoned,  and  a  guarded 
advance  was  made  upon  this  prototype  of  Maceo.  But  the  pitirri 
was  satisfied  with  his  exceedingly  creditable  performance,  pocketed 
the  stakes,  and  quietly  flew  away  to  his  club  among  the  palms. 
Slowly  and  sadly  the  poor,  lifeless  remains  were  lifted  from  the 
ground,  and  slowly  and  sadly  they  were  borne  by  the  volunteers  to 
the  barracks. 

Here  it  was  unanimously  decided  to  honor  the' defunct  birds  with 
a  public  funeral.  At  first  it  was  even  proposed  to  bury  them  in  the 
town  cemetery ;  but  it  was  finally  arranged  that  the  obsequies  (or  the 
"  orgies,"  as  Mark  Twain's  tramp  would  say)  should  take  place  in  the 
plaza.  The  procession  to  the  grave  was  worthy  of  the  great  occasion. 
Hundreds  followed  the  bier,  which  was  draped  with  the  Spanish 
colors,  and  covered  with  wreaths  and  emblems. 

The  amazing  part  of  this  absolutely  true  story  is  that  the  cura, 
Father  Gurna,  actually  headed  the  cortege.  A  volley  of  blank  cart 
ridges  over  the  buried  sparrows  terminated  the  proceedings,  and 
never,  surely  since  Homer  wrote  of  the  frogs  and  mice,  have  the 
doughty  deeds  of  such  small  deer  been  so  magnificently  recognized 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
Successes  of  the  Revolutionists. 

AFTER  Maceo's  return  to  the  Province  of  Havana  his  course 
may  be  described  as  one  continued  triumph.  Every  opposi 
tion  which  he  met  with  was  swept  from  his  path.  He  defeated 
detachments,  he  destroyed  military  stations,  he  marched  victoriously, 
until  he  was  on  the  very  borders  of  Pinar  del  Rio,  when,  according 
to  the  Captain-General,  the  rebellion  had  been  crushed  forever. 

It  was  impossible  to  obtain  perfectly  accurate  accounts  of  the 
engagement,  which  took  place  in  the  vicinity  of  Palos.  The  official 
reports  stated  that  an  encounter  occurred  without  furnishing  further 
details;  but  from  what  one  could  learn  from  other  sources,  two  bands 
of  the  patriot  army,  commanded  respectively  by  Maceo  and  Quintin 
Banderas,  succeeded  in  partially  surrounding  the  column  of  Colonel 
Tort,  which  they  routed  with  heavy  loss. 

Directing  their  course  to  the  southwest,  the  insurgents  arrived  on 
the  evening  of  the  1 2th  before  the  town  of  Batabano.  Batabano  is  a 
small  seaport,  where  vessels  trading  along  the  coast  and  passenger 
steamers  from  Havana  are  constantly  putting  in.  The  country  in 
the  vicinity  is  rich  and  fertile,  while  within  a  few  miles  the  vast 
plantations  of  Helena  yield  annually  the  largest  return  of  sugar  in 
the  Island. 

The  town  was  defended  by  a  strong  volunteer  detachment,  who 
were  further  supported  by  a  Spanish  gunboat  at  anchor  in  the  har 
bor.  As  the  Cubans  advanced,  the  land  and  sea  forces  opened  fire, 
and  for  a  short  time  there  was  a  brisk  fusilade  upon  the  insurgent 
ranks.  These  latter,  who  were,  of  necessity,  sparing  of  their  ammu 
nition,  returned  the  fire  in  moderation,  but  meanwhile  pressed  forward 
without  an  instant's  pause. 

As  soon  as  Maceo  had  succeeded  in  effecting  a  lodgment  in  the 
12  177 


178  SUCCESSES   OF  THK   REVOLUTIONISTS. 

outskirts  of  the  town,  the  volunteer  army  fell  back  precipitately 
under  shelter  of  the  guns  of  the  guard  ship,  and  left  Batabano  in  the 
hands  of  the  invaders.  The  whole  affair  did  not  occupy  quite  an 
hour,  and  the  losses  on  either  side  were  only  trifling. 

The  real  disaster  took  place  after  the  combat,  for  the  insurgents 
then  proceeded  to  set  fire  to  the  principal  buildings,  and  as  the 
flames  spread  with  great  rapidity,  the  entire  town  was  quickly  in 
a  blaze.  A  few  houses  alone  escaped,  so  that  in  place  of  the  once 
prosperous  seaport  there  remain  nothing  now  but  the  blackened  and 
crumbling  ruins. 

Destruction  of  a  Beautiful  Residence. 

Later  the  hacienda  of  a  Mr.  Goicochea  was  also  burned  to  the 
ground.  This  beautiful  country  residence  was  called  Chico,  and  lay 
at  a  distance  of  only  eight  miles  from  the  capital,  near  the  small  town 
of  Arroyo  Arenas.  It  was  said  to  be  one  of  the  handsomest  places 
in  Cuba.  The  house  was  the  very  beau  ideal  of  a  planter's  home, 
with  its  wide  verandas,  its  spacious  apartments  and  its  enclosed 
court,  filled  with  flowers  and  luxuriant  palms. 

The  owner  was  a  Cuban,  but  his  sympathies  were  decidedly  Span 
ish.  Indeed,  he  had  at  his  own  expense  raised  and  equipped  a  body 
of  guerrillas,  and  in  many  other  ways  had  shown  his  hostility  to  the 
cause  of  independence.  The  estate  was  partly  devoted  to  the  culti 
vation  of  coffee  and  tobacco,  but,  in  addition  to  these,  there  were 
large  pasturages,  where  about  twelve  hundred  head  of  cattle  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  horses  were  at  grass.  A  band  of  seven  insur 
gents  descended  on  the  land  early  in  the  afternoon.  They  had 
chosen  their  hour  with  great  judgment,  as  the  guerrillas  were  absent 
and  two  men  alone  represented  the  garrison. 

The  dwelling-house  and  out-offices  were  set  on  fire,  the  carriages, 
of  which  there  were  many,  and  the  farming  implements  were  piled 
together  and  burned,  and  the  ornamental  grounds  and  gardens  were 
laid  waste.  Not  content  with  inflicting  this  wholesale  destruction, 
the  attacking  party  drove  away  all  the  stock,  until  the  es< ''mated  loss 
is  calculated  to  have  amounted  to  over  $200,000. 


SUCCESSES   OF  THE   REVOLUTIONISTS.          17b 

Now,  these  seven  insurgents,  though  they  were  decidedly  what  the 
Highlanders  call  "  men  of  their  hands,"  were  not  for  that  reason 
deficient  in  reasoning  capacity.  They  concocted  a  plot,  which  simply, 
as  a  ruse  de  guerre,  may  challenge  competition.  They  terrified  the 
two  prisoners  whom  they  had  secured  by  announcing  their  deter 
mination  to  hang  them  both  forthwith.  Such  a  threat  was  naturally 
enough  met  by  many  prayers  and  entreaties,  which  were  finally 
granted  upon  one  condition. 

This  was  that  the  released  men  should  proceed  to  Marianao  and 
there  inform  the  officers  in  command  that  the  Cubans  intended  to 
attack  the  village  of  El  Cano  that  very  night.  Rejoicing  at  their 
escape,  the  two  readily  consented,  with  the  result  that  six  companies 
from  the  St.  Quintin  and  Peninsula  regiments  were  ordered  to  march 
at  once  to  the  threatened  locality. 

Spanish  Troops  Outwitted. 

As  El  Cano  had  latterly  been  supposed  to  be  in  danger,  it  held  a 
garrison  of  eighty  men,  under  the  command  of  a  sub-lieutenant,  who 
had  taken  the  precaution  to  strengthen  his  position  by  a  barricade 
erected  midway  down  the  single  street.  The  wily  insurgents  knew 
all  this  well,  and  so  they  hovered  around  the  outskirts  to  precipitate 
the  mistake  which  they  hopefully  anticipated. 

Shortly  after  nightfall  the  relieving  column  was  heard  approaching. 
"  Quien  vive,"  shouted  the  sentries,  to  which  the  reply,  "  Cuba  libre  !" 
came  back  instantly  from  the  concealed  patriots.  The  garrison,  of 
course,  concluded  that  they  had  to  do  with  the  enemy,  and  fired  a 
volley  upon  their  own  men,  who  in  their  turn  imagined  that  the 
town  was  in  the  hands  of  the  insurgents.  Under  this  delusion  both 
sides  continued  to  shoot,  but  as  the  defenders  were  behind  walls, 
they  suffered  nothing,  while  the  column  speedily  had  many  men 
hors  de  combat. 

After  this  had  gone  on  for  some  time  the  besieging  column  was 
ordered  to  charge  into  the  town,  and  they  managed  to  advance  as  far 
as  the  barricade.     Here,  however,  they  met  with  such  a  warm  recep 
*ion  that  the  colonel  decided  to  be  satisfied  with  the  half  that  he  had 


180          SUCCESSES   OF  THE   REVOLUTIONISTS. 

gained,  and  to  wait  for  daylight  to  resume  the  combat.  With  the 
morning  came  an  explanation.  The  opposing  forces  beheld  to  theii 
dismay  that  they  had  made  a  terrible  mistake,  and  nothing  remained 
but  to  count  up  the  loss. 

This  was  found  to  consist  of  thirteen  killed  and  thirty-five  wounded, 
including  four  officers  and  eight  sergeants,  all  on  the  attacking  side, 
for,  so  cleverly  had  the  young  sub-lieutenant  disposed  his  men,  that 
they  had  not  suffered  in  the  slightest  degree. 

One  thing  deserves  mention,  and  that  is  that,  though  these  Spanish 
soldiers  were  armed  exclusively  with  Mauser  and  Remington  rifles, 
,nany  of  the  wounds  were  found  to  have  been  inflicted  by  other 
bullets,  which  leads  one  to  conclude  that  the  seven  Cubans  had  not 
been  altogether  idle  spectators  of  the  affray  which  they  had  so  suc 
cessfully  brought  about. 

A  reliable  newspaper  correspondent  in  Cuba  wrote,  under  date  of 
March  2 1st,  1896,  as  follows  : 

Doubtful  Victories. 

"No  unprejudiced  person  can  any  longer  deny  that  hitherto  the 
efforts  of  the  Captain-General  to  cope  with  the  rebellion  have  proved 
eminently  unsuccessful.  The  army,  with  a  few  ultra-loyal  Spaniards, 
rack  their  invention  to  smooth  over  the  situation,  while  optimist 
newspapers  improve  upon  the  official  reports  of  victories.  When, 
however,  we  see  such  victories  followed  by  the  unchecked  progress 
of  the  insurgents,  it  is  not  difficult  to  read  between  the  lines. 

"  Nor  is  it  even  assuming  too  much  to  prophesy  that  the  reign  of 
Weyler  will  be  brief.  Martinez  Campos,  a  soldier,  and  a  brave  one, 
to  whose  capacity  as  a  commander  is  largely  due  the  existence  of  the 
present  reigning  house  of  Spain,  managed  to  weather  the  storm  for 
ten  months.  He  had  not  the  honest  support  of  his  military  col 
leagues,  and  was  further  impeded  by  secret  and  implacable  intrigue. 

"  Under  the  circumstances,  his  failure  was  hardly  to  be  wondered 
at.  His  successor,  however,  was  the  chosen  of  the  most  influential 
Spanish  factions  in  Cuba,  while  the  soldiers  considered  him  as  a  man 
after  their  own  heart.  We  were  told  of  his  surpassing  energy,  of  his 


SUCCESSES   OF  THE   REVOLUTIONISTS.  181 

exceptional  courage,  and  of  his  indomitable  resolution.  Of  these  we 
have  seen  nothing,  unless  it  be  an  energy  to  frame  oppressive  procla 
mations,  a  courage  to  endure  a  guilty  conscience,  and  a  resolution  to 
sustain  the  crimes  of  his  subordinates. 

"  The  last  few  days  have  shown  more  than  ever  the  worthlessness 
of  his  plans.  Gomez  has  returned  to  the  province  of  Havana.  Maceor 
Quintin  Banderas  and  Periquito  Perez  have  triumphed  in  Pinar  de: 
Rio,  and  Nunez  and  De  Robau  continue  to  harass  Santa  Clara. 

A  Young  Hero. 

"  Among  the  many  brave  leaders  of  the  insurgents  there  is  perhaps 
none  who  has  shown  more  heroism  than  young  De  Robau.  After 
the  breaking  out  of  the  revolution  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  join  the 
standard  of  independence.  At  that  time  he  was  engaged  to  be  married, 
yet  with  him  the  call  of  duty  was  paramount  over  every  selfish  consider 
ation.  After  having  served  for  some  months  with  conspicuous  credit, 
he  was  sent  with  his  command  into  the  neighborhood  of  his  fiance. 

"  The  men  hitherto,  it  may  be  imagined,  had  not  paid  much  atten 
tion  to  their  appearance,  but  now  there  was  a  regular  conventional 
dress  parade.  A  barber  was  requisitioned,  accoutrements  were  fur 
bished  up,  and  weather-beaten  sombreros  were  ornamented  with 
brilliant  ribands.  When  the  metamorphosis  was  complete  De  Robau 
placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his  dashing  troop,  and  went  in  state  to 
call  upon  the  lady  of  his  affections. 

"  His  march  was  a  triumph,  as  everywhere  he  was  attended  by 
crowds  of  enthusiastic  people,  who  had  long  known  him,  and  who 
now  hailed  him  as  a  distinguished  champion.  How  he  sped  in  his 
wooing  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  an  orderly  was  scon 
dispatched  for  the  village  cura,  and  that  there  was  a  wedding  whicli 
fairly  rivalled  that  of  Camacho,  so  often  and  so  fondly  recalled  by 
the  renowned  Sancho.  Since  then  the  Senora  de  Robau  has  accom 
panied  her  husband  throughout  the  campaign,  sharing  the  hard  fare 
and  the  dangers  of  the  men,  and  adding  another  to  the  noble  band  of 
patriotic  Cuban  women,  who  vie  with  their  husbands  and  brothers  in 
fidelity  to  their  native  land. 


182          SUCCESSES   OF   THE   REVOLUTIONISTS. 

"  Last  Tuesday  the  insurgents  gained  an  important  victory.  The 
columns  of  Colonel  Inclan  appear  to  have  fallen  into  an  ambuscade 
upon  their  march  near  Candelaria,  when  Maceo  upon  one  flank  and 
Banderas  on  the  other  poured  in  a  heavy  fire,  inflicting  serious  loss. 
Nor  was  the  misfortune  confined  to  men  alone,  for  it  is  now  com 
monly  believed  that  the  Cubans  succeeded  in  capturing  some  pieces 
of  artillery  after  a  severe  encounter  with  the  gunners,  who  defended 
the  cannon  with  great  bravery. 

"  The  same  patriot  forces  routed  Colonel  Frances  close  to  Guanajay 
and  compelled  him  to  fall  back  for  support  upon  the  brigade  of 
General  Linares  at  Artemisa.  That  the  wounded  in  both  these  en 
gagements  far  exceed  the  official  reports  can  be  gathered  from  the 
large  ambulance  train  which  was  sent  out  to  the  ground  yesterday 
morning  from  Havana.  The  increasing  audacity  of  the  insurgents, 
the  comparative  ease  and  impunity  with  which  they  roam  from  one 
end  of  the  Island  to  the  other,  and  the  burning  towns  and  villages 
which  everywhere  mark  the  line  of  their  advance  bear  witness  to 
the  incapacity  of  the  present  administration. 

"  Nor  do  we  hear  anything  further  of  that  cane-crushing  which 
was  to  have  followed  immediately  after  General  Weyler's  arrival. 
What  has  escaped  the  flames  stands  still  uncut  upon  the  fields,  serv 
ing  as  a  refuge  for  homeless  wanderers,  or,  as  in  the  case  of  Dr. 
Delgado,  as  a  hospital  for  unfortunate  victims.  The  elections,  too, 
do  not  progress,  and  merely  prove  a  bone  of  contention  between  the 
rival  parties. 

"  Apropos,  an  amusing  thing  connected  with  these  elections 
occurred  here  on  Thursday  evening.  It  was  reported  that  there  was 
to  be  a  conservative  demonstration  against  the  office  of  the  '  Discu- 
sion/  a  paper  of  decidedly  liberal  views.  Great  preparations  were 
made  to  repel  the  expected  attack.  Editors  held  a  council  of  war, 
reporters  were  mustered  in  force,  and  even  the  newsboys  were  pro 
vided  with  defensive  weapons.  One  of  these  latter,  about  nine 
o'clock,  when  all  were  in  breathless  anticipation,  very  mischievously 
exploded  a  fire-cracker  in  the  basement. 

"  In  an  instant  there  was  a  general  stampede.     '  Sauve  qui  pent ! ' 


SUCCESSES   OF   THE   REVOLUTIONISTS.  183 

was  the  word,  and  one  of  the  most  completely  armed,  a  perfect  walk 
ing  arsenal,  and  who  had  previously  boasted  of  his  valorous  inten 
tions,  got  himself  tightly  wedged  into  a  skylight,  in  a  frantic  effort  to 
seek  safety  on  the  roof.  Amid  the  universal  alarm  the  newsboys 
alone  were  calm  and  undaunted,  and  would  doubtless  have  been  pre 
sented  with  a  handsome  testimonial  had  it  not  leaked  out  that  they 
knew  all  the  time  that  the  whole  affair  was  a  practical  joke.  The 
announcement  this  morning  that  the  *  Three  Brothers  '  had  success 
fully  run  the  blockade  and  had  landed  her  cargo  of  ammunition  some 
where  on  the  coast  was  received  with  much  secret  satisfaction  by  all 
the  Cuban  sympathizers  in  Havana. 

The  Insurgents  Wage  Destruction. 

"Ammunition  is  one  of  the  weaknesses  of  the  insurgents;  courage, 
ability  and  men  they  possess  in  abundance  ;  but  the  lack  of  cartridges 
has  interfered  with  many  of  their  best-laid  plans,  and  has  often  pre 
vented  them  from  availing  themselves  of  favorable  opportunities. 
Three  or  four  rounds  a  man  is  nothing  in  an  action,  especially  when 
the  Spaniards  are  always  so  abundantly  supplied. 

"  It  is  not  possible,  however,  to  imagine  that  anything  could  inter 
fere  with  the  prosecution  of  the  war  on  Gomez's  side.  He  seems 
determined  this  time  to  fight  to  the  bitter  end,  and  as  Spanish 
incapacity  becomes  daily  more  apparent,  the  chances  for  final  inde 
pendence  assume  a  brighter  aspect.  Should  that  cause  eventually 
triumph,  it  is  devoutly  to  be  hoped  that  it  may  triumph  soon.  A 
long  war  in  any  country  is  a  terrible  evil,  but  in  Cuba,  in  the  way  in 
which  it  is  waged,  it  is  exceptionally  disastrous.  Nearly  sixty  small 
towns  have  already  been  burned,  in  addition  to  railway  stations  and 
private  houses,  while  the  damage  to  the  cornfields,  the  principal  source 
of  capital,  is  almost  incalculable. 

"  Another  year  of  such  a  conflict,  and  .there  will  hardly  be  a  dwell 
ing  left  standing.  Nothing  but  waste  and  ruins  will  mark  the  once 
smiling  Island,  and  it  must  be  long  before  industry  and  trade  can 
revive.  We  have  but  a  faint  idea  in  Havana  of  the  misery  that 
exists  in  the  interior,  We  can  only  gather  a  few  facts,  but  they  are 


184  SUCCESSES   OF   THE   REVOLUTIONISTS. 

still  sufficient  to  show  that  in  many  places  the  people  are  reduced  to 
the  last  extremity  of  destitution,  and  are  face  to  face  with  famine. 
The  commonest  necessaries  of  life  are  almost  unattainable,  and  milk 
and  bread  have  become  rare  luxuries. 

"  The  insurgents,  among  all  this  prevailing  poverty,  fare  indiffer 
ently;  but  they  are  more  inured  to  hardships  and  capable  of  enduring 
much  without  a  murmur.  It  has  often  been  asserted  that  they  pro 
vide  no  comforts  for  their  sick  and  wounded.  So  far  is  this  from 
being  the  case  that  each  one  of  the  six  provinces  has  now  got  its 
regular  hospital,  where  Gomez's  care  has  established  a  staff  of  medi 
cal  attendants,  and  a  strong  garrison.  The  largest  of  all  lies  in  that 
part  of  Santa  Clara  called  the  Isthmus  of  Zapata.  It  is  a  wild, 
swampy  region,  through  which  the  natives  alone  can  distinguish  those 
precarious  tracks,  where  the  slightest  deviation  means  being  engulfed 
in  the  treacherous  morass. 

Hospitals  for  the  Wounded. 

"  Puerto  Principe  has  its  hospital  on  the  mountains  of  Cubita, 
and  it  stands  in  security  on  the  lofty  summit  of  the  Gran  Piedra. 
In  Havana  it  is  situated  not  far  from  Yagua,  while  in  Santiago  de  Cuba 
and  in  Pinar  del  Rio  there  are  asylums  in  the  hills  of  Guaniguanico, 
and  La  Maestra.  There  are  many  smaller  ones,  as  well,  but  not 
being  so  advantageously  located,  they  are  exposed  to  constant  danger 
of  capture,  when  the  Spanish  soldiers  show  little  mercy  to  the  suffer 
ing  inmates. 

"  Perhaps  no  figure  in  this  unhappy  war  is  so  familiar  or  holds 
quite  so  bad  an  eminence  as  does  Morro  Castle.  Not  even  General 
Weyler,  with  all  his  imperfections  on  his  head,  can  rival  the  grim  old 
fortress.  It  is  the  first  object  which  meets  the  eye  on  entering  the 
harbor  of  Havana,  and  from  its  commanding  position  on  a  bold  bluff 
over  the  sea,  it  seems  to  dominate  the  city.  Itwasnot  until  recently, 
however,  that  I  had  an  opportunity  of  having  more  than  an  outside 
view  of  the  prison. 

"  Commenced  in  1589,  in  the  reign  of  Philip  II.,  of  evil  memory, 
it  was  not  finally  completed  until  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth 


SUCCESSES   OF   THE   REVOLUTIONISTS.  185 

century.  In  1642  it  was  captured  by  an  English  expedition  under 
the  Duke  of  Albemarle,  and  remained  the  headquarters  of  the  British 
army  during  their  occupation  of  Cuba.  It  consists  of  a  strong  outer 
fortification,  where  there  are  many  cells  devoted  to  those  who  are 
called  '  incommunicarods '  or  doomed  to  solitary  confinement. 
These  are  dreary  rooms  with  floors  and  ceilings  of  stone,  bare  of 
furniture  and  lighted  by  a  single  grated  window. 

Three  Iron  Doors. 

"  On  the  walls  are  the  usual  evidences  of  how  the  unhappy  inmates 
endeavored  to  while  away  the  long,  melancholy  hours  :  Scraps  of 
poetry,  interspersed  with  prose,  all  of  a  forlorn  tendency  and  generally 
signed  with  the  name  or  initials  of  the  captive.  The  passage  from 
them  into  the  interior  leads  through  three  iron  doors,  each  one  of 
which  is  carefully  locked  and  barred  before  the  succeeding  one  is 
opened. 

"  The  quadrangle  inside  is  nearly  filled  by  a  large  building,  which 
constitutes  the  prison  proper,  and  which  is  evidently  of  rather  modern 
construction.  Above,  it  is  devoted  to  store-rooms  and  the  kitchen 
department,  but  underneath  it  is  traversed  from  end  to  end  by  two 
long  passages,  about  twenty  feet  in  width,  closed  at  each  extremity 
by  massive  bars.  These  passages  contain  the  suspects  awaiting  trial, 
and  there,  with  nothing  to  protect  them  from  the  ocean  breezes, 
which  blow  fiercely  owing  to  the  northern  exposure,  and  with  no 
beds  or  blankets,  they  remain  for  months  and  months  They  are 
never  permitted  to  go  out,  and  can  only  take  what  exercise  the  limited 
space  admits  of. 

"  Those  who  have  relatives  or  friends  may  receive  clothes,  ham 
mocks,  and  even  food  from  them,  but  the  less  fortunate  are  condemned 
to  sleep  upon  the  stones  and  to  endure  the  cold  and  wet,  which  enter 
freely  through  the  open  grating.  One  of  these  rooms  or  passages 
was  occupied  by  108  prisoners  and  the  other  by  104.  It  must  be 
remembered  that  they  are  all  still  untried  ;  in  that  stage,  in  fact, 
where  our  law  would  consider  them  as  innocent.  Here  was  a  Spanish 
boy  of  fourteen,  with  an  honest,  kindly  face,  who  has  only  been  a 


186          SUCCESSES   OF   THE   REVOLUTIONISTS. 

few    months    in  Cuba,  and   who,  from  his  youth   and   country,   can 
hardly  be  supposed  to  be  an  aggressive  insurgent. 

"  Lopez  Coloma  is  another  inmate,  a  man  who  took  part  i  the 
rising  in  Matanzas  last  February,  but  who  surrendered  in  the  follow 
ing  March  under  the  amnesty  proclamation  of  the  Captain-General 
Calleja.  For  over  a  year  Coloma  has  suffered  for  the  faith  which  he 
placed  in  the  word  of  a  soldier  and  a  Spanish  Viceroy.  In  all  prob 
ability  he  will  share  the  fate  of  Jose  Gomez,  a  history  of  whose, 
sufferings  and  tortures  his  wife  is  said  to  possess  recorded  in  his 
blood.  Of  the  other  prisoners  I  could  hear  of  but  little  evidence 
against  them ;  yet,  be  they  ever  so  guilty,  no  man  of  ordinary  feeling 
could  witness  without  a  pang  the  inhumanity  to  which  they  are  sub 
jected  in  Morro  Castle." 


CHAPTER   XVII. 
Pen-Pictures  of  the  War. 

ABOUT  the  middle  of  March  it  was  announced  at  Havana  that 
General  Weyler  would  issue  another  proclamation,  which,  it 
was  admitted  in  official  circles,  would  threaten  Cubans  who 
had  left  the  Island  and  were  domiciled  in  the  United  States  with  the 
confiscation  of  their  property,  unless  they  returned  at  once  to  their 
homes.      This  measure,  according  to  the  official  apology  for  it,  was 
to  punish  "  those  conspirators  against  the  cause  of  Spain,  out  of  the 
country  as  well  as  within  it." 

While  this  looked  like  a  wholesale  campaign  of  robbery,  there  was 
unquestionably  plenty  of  ground  for  Spanish  anger  at  the  work  of 
the  patriots  who  escaped  from  her  clutches,  and  were  acting  so  safely 
and  so  effectively  for  their  cause  in  organizing  expeditions,  working 
up  public  sentiment  and  receiving  assistance  from  the  people  of  the 
United  States  to  carry  on  the  war. 

They  were  called  conspirators.  If  they  remained  where  they  were 
their  worldly  goods  were  to  be  taken.  If  they  returned  they  would 
in  all  probability  be  arrested  as  traitors  and  shot  or  banished.  In 
either  case  the  application  of  the  decree  would  bring  their  estates 
within  the  laws  and  they  would  lose  them. 

General  Weyler's  last  preceding  proclamations  occasioned  surprise 
by  their  mildness.  The  Cubans  seemed  to  attach  less  importance  to 
the  provisions  relating  to  the  confiscation  of  their  estates  than  to  the 
articles  providing  for  the  disposition  of  the  Civil  Guard  in  the  prin 
cipal  towns.  The  Civil  Guard  is  a  part  of  the  regular  army.  It  is, 
in  fact,  the  better  part,  because  the  regiments  of  which  it  is  com 
posed  are  made  up  of  picked  men.  At  all  times,  in  peace  or  in  war, 
an  army  of  these  Civil  Guards  is  maintained  on  the  Island.  They 
do  police  duty  and  preserve  order  in  the  country. 

137 


188  PEN-PICTURES    OF  THE    WAR. 

For  over  half  a  century  Cuba  has  been  under  martial  law,  and 
these  forces  are  continuously  active.  Peculiar  powers  have  been 
vested  in  this  institution,  and  with  an  extraordinary  liberty  in  inter 
preting  and  enforcing  laws,  which  has  resulted  in  excesses  against  the 
property  and  even  the  lives  of  inhabitants,  a  protection  has  been 
thrown  about  them,  so  that  for  assault,  extortion,  libel,  injury  to 
property  and  a  variety  of  other  crimes  a  citizen  has  no  redress. 

The  oppression  and  cruelties  of  which  this  department  of  the  gov 
ernment  has  been  guilty  produced  the  bandits  of  Cuba.  It  was  one 
of  the  multitude  of  evils  which  brought  about  the  revolution,  and 
besides  its  own  criminality,  it  was  the  particular  department  of  a 
corrupt  administration  with  which  the  people  were  most  often  in  con 
tact.  So  many  men  have  been  assaulted  and  beaten  to  death  by 
Civil  Guards  that  a  word  has  actually  come  into  existence  and  taken 
its  place  in  the  Spanish  language  in  Cuba  to  describe  the  action 
causing  death  in  that  manner — "  compote." 

Driven  to  Desperation. 

Women  have  been  subjected  to  indignity  from  these  "  protectors  " 
of  peace  and  good  order,  in  the  presence  of  male  members  of  their 
families,  who  dared  not  resent  it.  These  representatives  of  the  tl  holy 
cause,"  as  Spain  terms  her  t(  mission  "  in  Cuba,  have  been  the  agents 
of  corrupt  governors  and  mayors  for  assassinating  men,  under  the 
old,  old  story  of  the  prisoner  attempting  to  escape,  or  in  oppression 
and  blackmail,  until  the  ruin  of  the  victims  was  accomplished. 

In  Camaguey  the  people  were  driven  to  a  point  which  resulted  in 
their  seizing  and  hanging  some  of  the  Civil  Guards,  and  for  a  time 
that  put  an  end  to  their  practices  in  that  province.  At  elections,  the 
whole  Civil  Guard  is  simply  a  political  machine,  so  powerful  and  so 
perfectly  handled  that,  except  in  a  few  districts,  it  controls  the  vote. 

Manuel  Garcia,  one  of  the  most  dashing  leaders  in  Gomez's  army, 
who  was  killed  by  a  Spanish  spy  sent  into  his  company,  was  a  ban 
dit  in  Cuba  before  the  war  broke  out.  How  he  came  to  be  an  out 
law  is  a  fair  example  of  the  fate  of  many  citizens.  He  was  a  respect 
able  storekeeper  in  Quivican,  just  a  little  way  out  of  Havana,  young, 


PEN-PICTURES   OF   THE   WAR.  189 

handsome  and  industrious,  and  was  in  love  with  a  country  woman. 
They  were  about  to  be  married  when  one  of  the  Civil  Guards 
assaulted  her.  Garcia  was  immediately  ordered  to  leave  the  country, 
the  authorities  doubtless  expecting  that  he  would  kill  the  man, 
against  whom  it  was  impossible  to  bring  any  prosecution  under  the 
law,  because  nearly  all  offences  committed  by  members  of  the  Civil 
Guard  are  permitted  to  be  tried  by  the  Civil  Guards  themselves. 

Beaten  and  Left  for  Dead. 

He  did  not  instantly  shut  up  his  store  and  abandon  everything  he 
had  in  the  world,  and  a  few  days  later  two  of  the  Civil  Guards 
arrested  him  and  took  him  to  a  place  where  he  was  stripped  and 
tied  to  a  tree  and  beaten  with  a  bamboo  rod  until  he  was  left  appar 
ently  dead.  He  was  found  shortly  by  some  farmers  who  were  hunt 
ing  for  lost  cattle  in  the  woods,  and  was  carried  to  a  house,  where  he 
recovered.  Garcia  met  two  other  guards  on  the  road  while  making 
his  way  back  to  Quivican.  He  said  their  salutation  was :  "  If  you 
haven't  had  enough  to  cause  you  to  obey  the  orders,  we  will  see  that 
you  get  it  now." 

Whether  this  is  true  is  of  no  importance  ;  but,  whatever  the 
manner  of  their  meeting  may  have  been,  it  ended  in  Garcia  killing 
both  with  his  machete  and  then  fleeing  for  his  life.  A  price  of  $5,000 
was  put  upon  his  head,  but  he  was  never  captured.  In  about  a  year 
he  appeared  as  the  leader  of  a  company  of  fifteen  or  twenty  men, 
and  after  1892  he  was  a  terror  to  the  two  provinces  of  Havana  and 
Matanzas. 

The  Spanish  version  of  how  Garcia  became  a  bandit  differs  only  in 
the  point  that  as  a  butcher  he  sold  stolen  meat ;  that  he  was  a  thief 
and  always  a  criminal,  and  that  the  respectable  storekeeper  of  the 
family  was  Vicente  Garcia.  It  is  interesting,  however,  to  know  that 
after  Manuel  Garcia  was  a  bandit  "  compote  "  was  administered  to 
this  respectable  merchant  for  his  brother's  crimes,  and  the  abuse 
resulted  in  his  also  going  to  the  woods  and  joining  Manuel. 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  Garcia  carried  on  his  depredations  within 
a  radius  seldom  farther  from  Havana  than  twenty  miles.  At  one 


190  PEN-PICTURES   OF  THE   WAR. 

time  he  rode  into  his  native  city,  Quivican,  and  burned  the  railroad 
station.  He  held  up  a  train,  and  in  shooting  killed  the  conductor, 
because  a  request  for  money  which  he  had  sent  to  the  company  had 
received  no  attention.  When  the  war  broke  out  in  1895  he  was  one 
of  the  first  to  rise  with  a  force  in  Matanzas.  He  collected  about  250 
mounted  and  armed  men  within  forty-eight  hours,  and  Gomez  per 
mitted  him  to  attach  himself  and  his  followers  to  the  invading  army 

A  Heartless  Assassination. 

Garcia,  however,  did  not  live  long  enough  to  win  any  laurels  as  a 
fighter  for  the  republic,  although  his  bravery  and  spirit,  and  his  per 
fect  knowledge  of  the  country,  gained  as  a  fugitive,  made  his  services 
invaluable  for  a  time.  It  was  possible  to  kill  Garcia  because  of  his 
new  surroundings.  A  brother  of  Fernandez  de  Castro,  a  sugar-estate 
owner,  was  kidnapped  by  Garcia,  and  a  ransom  of  $14,000  had  to  be 
paid  by  Castro  to  secure  his  release.  A  friend  of  the  Castros  is  said  to 
have  determined  to  avenge  the  act,  and  he  enlisted  in  one  of  Garcia's 
companies.  He  shot  Garcia,  and  before  he  could  escape  was  cut  to 
pieces  with  the  machetes  of  the  chief's  men.  It  was  said,  and  seems 
to  be  generally  believed,  that  Garcia  sent  at  least  $25,000  to  the 
States  to  be  used  in  helping  defray  the  expenses  of  an  expedition. 

Perico  Delgado,  the  leader  of  the  rebel  forces  in  Pinar  del  Rio,  and 
for  a  time  Maceo's  scout;  Aguero,  Matagas,  Mirabal  and  Socorros, 
second  in  command  under  Delgado  in  Vuelta  Abajo,  were  all  bandits. 
Aguero  and  Matagas  were  killed. 

We  have  referred  to  the  history  of  Garcia  to  give  an  idea  of  the 
interest  which  attaches  to  General  Weyler's  plans  for  using  this  Civil 
Guard.  They  were  centered  in  all  the  principal  towns,  and  as  fast  as 
surrounding  villages  were  subdued  detachments  were  sent  into  them. 
Moving  and  disseminating  from  central  positions,  the  guard  was 
eventually  to  acquire  domination  of  the  whole  Island.  In  every 
town  the  civil  authorities  were  to  be  removed,  and  the  commander  of 
the  Civil  Guard  was  to  exercise  the  function  of  mayor  and  general 
executive.  Into  the  hands  of  these  leaders  was  given  an  arbitrary 
power  which  was  fairly  startling. 


PEN-PICTURES   OF   THE    WAR.  191 

They  govern  by  martial  law,  and  are  at  liberty  to  exercise  their 
own  judgment  in  all  emergencies.  The  first  thing  they  do  is  to 
make  up  a  list  of  loyal  citizens  in  their  towns  and  districts,  and 
another  list  of  rebels  and  rebel  sympathizers,  who  have  gone  out  to 
fight  or  who  remain  at  home ;  and  the  amount  of  blackmailing  done 
under  threats  of  putting  men's  names  in  the  wrong  list  is  easily  con 
ceived.  All  public  offices  to  which  the  people  have  elected  m^n  of 
their  choice  in  recent  years  were  vacated  by  this  decree. 

The  conclusion  of  this  plan,  as  outlined  in  the  proclamation^  con 
tained  an  admission  that  the  Spanish  were  operating  largely  ^a  the 
defensive,  since  the  rebel  armies  had  invaded  and  taken  possession  of 
the  whole  country,  province  by  province,  except  the  few  large  cities. 
The  language  of  this  admission  was  that  as  rapidly  as  possible  towns 
were  to  be  fortified  and  placed  "  in  a  state  of  defense  to  prevent  sur 
prise."  The  other  provisions  of  the  proclamation,  touching  the 
confiscation  of  estates  whose  owners  were  insurgents,  or  who  assisted 
them,  were  not  particularly  severe  or  improper. 

The  Cubans  have  their  national  anthem,  some  account  of  which 
will  be  of  interest  to  the  reader :  "  Wherever  the  armies  of  the  revo 
lution  have  gone  they  have  carried  it  with  them.  The  soldiers  have 
jung  it.  Their  bands  have  played  it.  In  the  festivities  that  cele 
brate  their  entrance  into  every  town  and  village  it  has  the  most 
prominent  place  in  the  music.  At  the  balls  it  is  the  last  event  for 
women,  girls,  men  and  boys  to  join  in  the  chorus  of  '  Bayamesa's 
Hymn,'  as  it  is  called.  The  words  and  music  are  familiar  all  over 
Cuba,  for  the  people  are  like  the  ruralists  of  Spain  in  one  respect, 
their  love  for  ballads. 

"In  times  of  peace  the  wandering  minstrel  with  guitar  or  mandolin 
is  as  familiar  a  figure  in  the  hill  towns  and  villages  of  Cuba  as  in  the 
romances  of  Spain.  And  everybody  sings  or  can  sing ;  except  in 
those  awful  periods  of  butchery  called  *  wars  with  Spain '  and  the 
subsequent  recovery  from  devastation  and  poverty.  Cuba  is  one  of 
the  happiest  countries  in  the  world.  She  is  one  of  the  richest.  No 
man  ever  went  to  bed  hungry  in  Cuba,  except  in  war  times.  They 
seldom  borrow  their  melodies.  They  make  them. 


192  PEN-PICTURES   OF   THE    WAR. 

"And,  as  if  they  were  unconsciously  sad,  as  if  half  a  century  of  suc 
ceeding  revolutions  had  burdened  their  very  souls  with  lamentation, 
nearly  all  their  songs  have  a  plaintiveness  that  is  striking  to  the  ear 
of  a  stranger.  Their  nature  has  not  been  subdued,  but  their  hearts 
have  been  broken.  The  '  Bayamesa's  Hymn,'  however,  is  in  a  robust  F 
major,  perhaps  because  it  is  so  old,  for  one  reason.  It  has  been  sung 
for  many,  many  years  as  a  Cuban  ballad  and  has,  in  its  entirety,  some 
fifty  verses,  if  all  that  have  been  sung  to  it  were  put  together.  But 
the  theme  never  varies — '  to  arms,  not  for  glory,  but  to  break  the 
chains  of  tyranny.'  " 

They  Burned  their  City. 

In  the  last  war — the  ten  years'  war — the  city  of  Bayamo  was  to 
have  been  occupied  by  a  Spanish  army.  The  people  were  aware  of 
the  approach  of  the  enemy,  and,  as  the  Russians  did  at  Moscow,  they 
burned  their  city,  leaving  nothing  but  its  smoldering  ruins  to  exhibit 
their  hatred  and  horror  of  the  invaders.  To  this  day  Bayamo  of  the 
seventies  is  simply  a  monument  in  crumbling  walls  to  the  patriotism 
of  a  people  who  had  even  before  that  inspired  the  Bayamesa's  Hymn 
£y  their  deeds. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  a  translation  which  conveys  all  the  inten 
sity  of  the  emotions  aroused  by  the  song,  as  it  is  one  of  those  in 
which  the  melody  seems  to  have  sprung  from  the  very  syllables  of 
the  words,  and  neither  can  be  separated  from  the  other  without 
injury.  In  turning  the  old  ballad  into  a  national  hymn  Cubanos  has 
been  substituted  for  Bayames. 

Besides  prohibiting  this  song  or  the  playing  of  the  music  in  Havana 
or  other  cities  in  Spanish  possession,  the  authorities  have  had  to  sup 
press  ballads  which  have  been  written  by  the  Cubans  caricaturing 
royalty  and  the  "  holy  cause  "  of  Spain.  They  have  been  prolific  in 
turning  them  out,  and  one  in  particular,  against  which  a  special  decree 
was  issued  from  the  Palace,  was  written  with  the  music  in  waltz  time, 
and  the  words  beginning  with  and  parodying  that  familiar  sentence  at 
the  end  of  all  Spanish  reports  of  the  battles  with  the  Cubans,  "  For 
nuestra  parte  no  hay  novedad  " — on  our  part  we  had  no  loss. 


PEN-PICTURES  OF  THE   WAR.  193 

The  air  was  so  catchy  that  it  was  soon  being  whistled  and  played 
all  over  Havana.  The  Spanish  authorities  took  it  seriously,  and  they 
issued  a  decree  making  the  death  penalty  for  any  one  to  utter  the 
melody  with  words,  and  one  can  no  longer  sing  of  Spanish  victories 
— at  least  to  that  tune. 

Stirring  Strains  of  Music. 

All  the  revolutionary  forces  have  bands  and  plenty  uf  music. 
Always  upon  entering  a  town,  if  they  are  not  taking  it  by  fighting, 
they  ride  in  with  the  band  playing  martial  music.  The  people  turn 
out  to  welcome  them — what  people  there  are  left — and  the  same  young 
women  who  gave  them  all  their  smiles  flee  in  terror  when  a  Spanish 
column  approaches  their  hamlet,  for  outrages  or  even  murder  are  in 
store  if  they  remain.  The  Cuban  soldiers  are  much  given  to  personal 
adornment. 

They  wear  the  great  five-pointed  star  on  their  hats,  and  the  bands 
are  braided  with  red,  white  and  blue  ribbons.  Their  horses'  bridles 
are  gaudily  tasseled,  and  the  men  are  as  expert  horsemen  as  there  are 
in  the  world.  They  are  welcomed,  and  their  presence,  the  festivities, 
the  dances,  the  stories  of  their  battles,  all  go  to  make  their  coming 
a  happy  event.  When  they  leave  the  band  plays  the  Bayames  Hymn. 
This  is  in  towns,  of  course,  where  the  Spanish  have  no  garrisons.  In 
the  latter  the  coming  of  the  insurgent  army  is  an  invasion  with  the 
firebrand  and  rifle,  and  the  Bayamesa's  Hymn  gives  way  to  a  wild 
uproar  of  voices  crying,  "  Viva  Cuba  Libre  ! " 

General  Gomez  introduced  a  new  plan  for  the  relief  of  owners  of 
sugar  estates,  which  was  intended  to  result  in  saving  several  millions 
of  dollars'  worth  of  property  that  would  otherwise  go  to  ruin.  Per 
mits  were  issued  to  planters  who  asked  for  them,  which  would  let 
them  plow  and  prepare  land  for  planting  cane,  cut  burned  cane  which 
was  standing,  and,  in  fact,  perform  almost  any  other  work  necessary 
to  preserve  their  properties.  The  grinding  of  cane  was  prohibited, 
as  was  the  production  of  anything  else  which  would  benefit  the 
revenues  of  Spain.  Gomez,  however,  became  so  confident  that  the 
war  would  be  over  within  a  year,  that  every  possible  measure  to  save 
13 


194  PEN-PICTURES    OF   THE    WAR. 

the  sugar  estates  which  obeyed  the  orders  against  grinding  was  to 
be  taken. 

If  the  burned  cane  was  allowed  to  stand  it  would  rot  and  fall,  and 
leave  the  fields  in  a  wretched  condition,  requiring  an  unusual  amount 
of  labor  in  weeding  and  cultivating  and  keeping  the  ground  clean. 
The  roots,  however,  would  not  be  killed,  but  would  sprout  and  grow 
after  the  rainy  season.  Cane  which  has  not  been  cut  will  keep  on 
growing,  and  if  the  war  ended  so  that  grinding  could  be  resumed,  the 
heavier  and  richer  cane  would  produce  so  much  sugar  that  a  part  of 
the  losses  would  be  offset.  This  gain  would  be  material  anyway,  but  it 
would  practically  amount  to  even  more  than  the  actual  increase  in 
the  bearing  of  sugar,  because  the  expenses  of  grinding  for  some  time 
were  not  incurred. 

Statistics  Concerning  Sugar. 

We  quote  from  a  statement  relating  to  the  sugar  industry : 

"  There  are  about  750,000  acres  of  cane  under  cultivation.  Re 
planting,  which  covers  the  plowing  of  the  ground  and  the  care  of  the 
crop  up  to  the  time  for  cutting  it,  would  cost  about  $25  an  acre. 
Some  of  it  would  cost  more.  The  introduction  of  American  methods, 
substituting  steam  plows,  cultivators  and  higher  class  of  labor  for  the 
primitive  means  generally  employed,  has  brought  the  cost  down  to 
$12  an  acre  in  a  few  plantations  recently  replanted.  Assuming  the 
average  to  be  $20  an  acre,  the  loss  facing  the  planter,  in  the  event  of 
.longer  conflict,  would  approach  $15,000,000.  It  would  take  Cuba 
years  to  recover,  and  many  men  would  be  hopelessly  ruined. 

"  The  importance  of  this  new  privilege  is  therefore  apparent.  No 
such  condition  existed  in  the  ten  years'  war,  because  that  revolution 
never  extended  over  much  more  than  half  the  Island.  Many  planters 
are  already  hastening  to  secure  the  advantages  of  the  permission  to 
Work  their  land,  but  their  great  obstacle  is  the  absence  of  labor. 
Three-quarters  of  the  men  working  upon  the  estates  last  year  are 
either  in  the  rebel  armies  or  have  fled  to  the  cities  for  refuge.  An 
other  embarrassment  is  the  lack  of  money. 

"  The  planters  can  secure  no  advances  upon  crops  because  there  is 


PEN-PICTURES   OF  THE    WAR.  195 

to  be  no  sugar  produced.  They  cannot  mortgage  their  holdings 
because  lenders  are  putting  out  nothing  in  Cuba,  and  are  striving 
instead  to  get  every  dollar  away  from  the  Island  which  they  have 
there.  Nevertheless,  the  new  order  of  things  is  a  benefit  to  the 
planters  who  can  profit  by  it.  Thousands  of  acres  of  cane  will  be 
saved,  and  plowing  is  already  being  done  on  several  estates  in  Havana 
and  Matanzas  provinces. 

"  The  orders  are  following  so  quickly  the  action  of  Congress  that 
there  is  a  general  belief  in  a  connection  between  the  two  events. 
There  has  never  been  a  moment  when  the  revolutionary  leaders  have 
not  maintained  that  with  belligerency  rights  from  the  United  States 
the  end  of  the  war  would  be  at  hand  within  a  few  months.  They  are 
more  confident  of  this  now  than  ever  before,  since  at  the  moment  the 
granting  of  those  rights  seems  to  be  at  hand  the  bankrupt  condition 
of  Spain  is  also  announced. 

Is  Spain  Bankrupt? 

"  If  Gomez  foresaw  the  terrible  blow  to  Spain  which  the  cutting 
off  her  revenues  from  the  sugar  crop  was  to  inflict,  it  was  unquestion 
ably  a  master  stroke  of  policy,  due  to  a  degree  of  strategical  fore 
sight  for  which  Spain  had  never  given  him  credit.  It  is  significant 
that  even  in  Havana  there  was  permitted  to  be  published  a  cablegram 
from  London,  which  read  :  '  The  economical  review,  the  "  Statist," 
states  that  Spain  is  in  bankruptcy,  and  that  the  war  in  Cuba  may 
oblige  he?  to  confess  this  situation.'" 

The  paralysis  of  business  which  afflicted  Cuba  was  manifesting  itself 
in  a  new  way.  Spanish  merchants  who  had  been  loyal  to  Spain  all 
along  were  crying  now  for  peace  at  any  price.  In  conversation  they 
admitted  that  they  were  holding  off  from  day  to  day  the  inevitable 
crash,  and  that  it  was  no  longer  a  question  of  months,  but  of  days, 
before  the  business  houses  of  the  Island  would  go  down  like  a  row 
of  dominoes.  If  Cuba  was  to  be  lost,  curiously  enough  they 
declared  that  they  preferred  annexation  to  the  United  States  rather 
than  attempting  to  live  under  the  newly-constructed  government. 

There  was  a  motive  of  selfishness  or  fear  which  accounts  for  this. 


196  PEN-PICTURES   OF  THE  WAR. 

They  believed  that  with  the  Cubans  in  power  they  would  be  shut  out 
of  everything  and  possibly  subjected  to  such  restrictions  as  the 
Cubans  were  now  under,  but  they  believed  that  under  the  govern 
ment  of  the  United  States  they  would  be  allowed  to  hold  their  own 
within  the  limits  of  legitimate  competition. 

Facing  Both  Ways. 

They  talked  about  the  "  destiny  of  Cuba,"  they  argued  over 
"  channels  of  commerce,"  and  they  discussed  what  they  called  "  the 
inevitable  tendencies  of  commercial  control,"  and  then  the  next 
moment  raised  their  voices  to  proclaim  their  eternal  loyalty  to  Spain 
and  signed  a  memorial  to  General  Weyler  containing  a  pledge  of 
"  our  unconditional  adhesion  to  your  Excellency  and  our  willingness 
to  sacrifice  our  fortunes  and  even  our  lives  to  retain  Cuba  under  the 
bonds  of  Spain." 

Some  figures  were  prepared  and  printed,  with  the  sanction  of  the 
Spanish,  showing  the  sugar  exports  of  the  Island  for  two  months, 
which,  despite  their  source,  indicated  the  affliction  from  which  all 
business  was  suffering  through  General  Gomez's  orders  cutting  off 
the  product.  In  1895,  on  March  I,  there  had  been  received  at  the 
ports  of  the  Island  319,326  tons  of  sugar.  A  year  later  the  amount 
up  to  the  same  date  was  53,298.  This  was  notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  the  estates  began  grinding  six  weeks  earlier  than  the  year  before, 
in  fear  of  the  rebels  coming  and  in  an  effort  to  save  all  the  cane 
possible  before  grinding  would  have  to  be  suspended.  Therefore  the 
normal  inflow  of  sugar  stood  as  319,000  tons,  against  53,000  tons 
under  pressure. 

From  Sagua,  which,  in  1895,  at  this  date,  had  204,000  sacks  of 
sugar  in  hand,  not  one  sack  was  marketed.  The  figures  from 
Matanzas  were,  for  the  same  date,  1895,  466,000  sacks  ;  1896,  59,000 
sacks;  from  Cardenas,  1895,  323,300;  in  1896,  1,294;  from  Cien- 
fuegos,  1895,  266,200;  in  1896,  28,000;  from  Caibarien,  1895,  150,- 
800;  in  1896,  25,600;  from  Cuba,  1895,  81,000;  in  1896,  10,700; 
from  Zaza,  1895,  10,500;  in  1896,  none;  from  Trinidad,  1895,  14,496; 
in  1896,  none.  The  entire  export  of  sugar  in  1895  was  generally 


PEN-PICTURES   OF   THE  WAR.  197 

figured  at  6,500,000  sacks,  or  between  975,000  and  1,000,000  tons. 
According  to  these  official  figures  the  exports  of  sugar  for  the  same 
time  in  1896  and  the  amount  on  hand  were  as  follows  : 

Tons. 
Exports    .........................      76,076 

Amount  consumed    ....................        8,400 

Amount  on  hand  .......    ..............      5  5,489 

Total    .......................    .    .    139,965 

Amount  of  this  which  represents  old  stock  left  over    .....      86,667 


Remainder  in  siht 


Under  date  of  March  2Oth  it  was  stated  that  the  insurgent  generals 
were  still  outwitting  and  outgeneraling  the  Spaniards  with  a  com 
pleteness  which  would  be  ludicrous  if  the  horrors  of  the  Spanish 
attempt  at  brutal  conquest  were  not  always  present  in  one's  mind. 

Maceo's  invasion  of  Pinar  del  Rio  had  already  attained  such  im 
portance  that  it  was  designated  "  the  second  invasion."  Although 
he  had  not  started  on  his  return,  a  brief  summary  of  the  events  which 
had  already  occurred  will  show  how  important  this  invasion  was  to 
the  issue  of  the  war.  The  first  event  occurred  two  weeks  before, 
when  Maceo,  who  had  been  moving  eastward  through  Matanzas, 
turned  back  toward  the  west.  The  seven  Spanish  columns,  often 
referred  to,  were  suddenly  called  upon  to  check  him. 

General  Weyler's  staff  planned  a  manoeuvre  which  would  bring  all 
the  forces  into  conjunction,  surrounding  Maceo's  army  at  a  point  one 
mile  from  Coliseo.  The  orders  were  sent  by  telegraph  to  Generals 
Prat,  Linares  and  Aldecoa  and  Colonel  Hernandez  requiring  them  to 
make  that  place  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  telegraph 
operator  let  the  message  go  correctly  to  General  Prat,  but  changed  the 
hour  to  six  in  the  other  messages;  and  when  General  Prat  came  upon 
Maceo  he  had  about  3,500  men  and  the  rebels  over  8,000  cavalry. 
General  Prat  was  forced  to  retreat  with  the  column  badly  shattered. 

A  second  combination  was  attempted  two  days  later  near  Limonar, 


198  PEN-PICTURES   OF  THE   WAR. 

where  Maceo  was  apparently  intending  to  cross  the  line  into  Havana, 
province.  This  also  failed,  for  the  reason  that  Colonel  Tort  with  the 
Almancea  battalion,  a  newly-arrived  body  of  green  recruits  from 
Spain  who  had  never  seen  fighting,  attempted  to  hold  the  vital  point 
on  the  lines.  Maceo's  veterans  swept  down  upon  them  and  broke 
through  the  combination  with  a  fierce  fight  which  fairly  wiped  out 
the  Almancea  battalion. 

Brave  Telegraph  Operator. 

The  Spanish  retired  in  the  direction  of  Limonar,  carrying  about 
100  wounded;  and,  besides  the  nineteen  dead  they  carried  away, 
left  seven  on  the  field,  which  the  rebels  buried.  With  these  victories 
Maceo's  road  was  clear,  and  after  a  few  engagements  of  minor 
importance  came  the  burning  of  the  important  town  of  Batabano. 
What  the  Spanish  did  to  defend  it  is  best  told  by  their  own  report : 

"  When  we  saw  the  establishment,  El  Canon,  belonging  to  Mr. 
Ricardo  Ganidera,  the  first  house  burned,  was  in  flames,  the  troops, 
in  anticipation  of  what  might  occur,  retired  to  the  forts." 

They  were  so  whipped  out  that  General  Weyler,  the  day  after  the 
burning  of  the  city,  ordered  the  payment  of  $10  to  each  man  in  the 
garrison  to  enable  him  to  buy  clothing.  Here  a  gunboat  lay  out  in 
the  harbor  and  shelled  the  town  while  the  insurgents  were  burning 
it,  but  Quintin  Bandera  happened  to  have  four  cannons,  and  when 
these  unexpectedly  opened  upon  the  gunboat  she  put  out  to  sea. 

In  this  fight  the  cannon  shots  were  passing  over  the  roof  of  the 
little  cable  station  where  the  line  drops  off  shore,  and  the  operator 
had  to  stand  outside  waving  a  lantern  constantly  to  enable  the  gun 
ners  on  the  water  to  direct  their  shots  over  him  or  to  one  side.  He 
had  to  take  his  chances  with  the  rebels  when  their  cannons  began  to 
take  part,  and  at  one  time  he  set  down  his  lantern  long  enough  to 
telephone  to  Havana :  "  Good-by,  boys.  It's  all  up  with  us,  and— 
There  the  wire  was  cut.  He  waved  his  light  again  till  he  saw  the 
gun-boat  leaving,  and  then  lay  flat  down  on  the  ground  and  waited. 
It  was  three  days  before  the  line  was  repaired  and  he  was  able  to  send 
word  that  he  was  still  alive. 


PEN-PICTURES   OF  THE   WAR.  199 

While  this  was  going  on  the  Spanish  were  setting  a  third  line  in  a 
combination  of  troops  to  keep  Maceo  within  Havana  province  and 
out  of  Pinar  del  Rio  at  any  cost.  Colonel  Hernandez  and  Colonel 
Inclan,  with  nearly  3,000  men,  were  hurriedly  sent  in  front  of  Maceo 
by  trains  down  the  western  railway.  General  Ochando,  the  chief  of 
General  Weyler's  staff,  said  that  morning,  the  I3th:  "They  have 
entered  this  province  again,  but  I  have  just  given  orders  to  bar  their 
way  into  Pinar  del  Rio,  and,  although  I  don't  know  whether  they 
will  succeed  in  getting  there  or  not,  if  they  do  they  will  never  come 
out  alive."  Two  days  later  Maceo's  forces  defeated  Hernandez  and 
Inclan  at  the  Estate  Neptuno,  near  Mangas,  between  Artemisa  and 
Candelaria,  and  captured  the  mules  with  the  ammunition  and  rations. 

Sudden  Attack  from  Ambush. 

The  next  day  occurred  one  of  the  hardest  fights  of  the  invasion. 
The  troops  of  General  Linares  had  begun  to  arrive  to  assist  Her 
nandez  and  Inclan.  They  brought  cavalry  and  artillery.  The 
Spanish  forces  were  moving  along  the  road  which  lies  between 
Candelaria  and  Guanajay.  It  was  raining  in  torrents.  Suddenly  the 
whole  division  found  itself  in  an  ambush ;  4,000  insurgents  were 
behind  stone  fences  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  and  as  soon  as  the 
fighting  began  they  closed  in  front  and  rear.  There  was  fighting  for 
two  hours.  The  insurgents  used  the  ammunition  they  had  captured 
the  day  before.  They  captured  two  cannons  and  more  ammunition, 
and  inflicted  such  losses  upon  the  Spanish  that  a  special  train  was 
sent  out  from  Havana  to  bring  in  the  dead  and  wounded.  It  was 
even  given  out  at  the  Palace  that  the  troops  had  suffered  two  captains 
killed,  four  lieutenants  wounded  and  fifty-seven  soldiers  wounded. 
Thore  were  about  fifty  soldiers  killed. 

Of  course,  it  was  called  a  Spanish  victory,  and  it  was  announced, 
'*  We  dispersed  the  enemy  with  bayonet  charges."  The  next  day,  the 
l8th,  at  Cayajabos,  the  insurgents  took  possession  of  the  burned 
town  for  a  camp.  Gen.  Linares,  Col.  Frances  and  Col.  Inclan 
attacked  them.  Col.  Francis  arrived  first.  Gen.  Linares  and  Col, 
Jnclan  heard  the  cannonading  and  rifle-fire  and  hurried  on.  The 


200  PEN-PICTURES   OF  THE  WAR. 

fight  here  lasted  four  hours,  and  the  Spanish  had  four  captains  and 
seven  lieutenants  killed,  the  killed  and  wounded  soldiers  numbering 
nearly  300.  The  insurgents  captured  1,000  rifles,  and,  on  account  of 
their  strong  position  in  the  town,  got  through  the  day  with  about 
eighty  losses,  dead  and  wounded,  as  nearly  as  can  be  learned.  Col. 
Francis  was  wounded  and  was  brought  back  to  Havana. 

Maceo's  Skillful  Tactics. 

This  is  an  outline  of  the  invasion.  It  is  sufficient  to  show  that 
Maceo's  march  was  attended  by  every  effort  which  the  Spanish  could 
exert  to  prevent  his  progress,  that  their  resources  were  taxed  to 
the  uttermost,  but  that  they  failed  at  every  point.  He  was  still  on 
his  march.  The  Spanish  were  again  behind  him.  Of  his  12,000 
men  he  suffered  no  appreciable  loss ;  but  captured  some  of  the 
enemy's  artillery,  disabled  one  of  their  best  leaders  in  Col.  Frances, 
took  1,000  Mausers,  and  more  than  all  these  combined,  he  utterly 
destroyed  the  effect  of  Gen.  Weyler's  proclamation  declaring  that 
Havana  and  Pinar  del  Rio  were  cleared  up  and  closed  to  the  insur 
gent  armies. 

Gen.  Gomez's  movements  were  fully  as  significant  as  Maceo's  in 
vasion.  Apparently  satisfied  that  his  lieutenant-general  was  perfectly 
safe  in  caring  for  himself,  Gomez  went  back  into  Santa  Clara,  and 
crossed  the  Spanish  military  lines  of  that  province,  without  firing  a 
shot.  Gomez  had  entirely  disappeared  from  the  official  reports  for 
three  days,  and  then  this  was  given  out :  "  It  is  believed  that  Gomez 
is  in  Havana  province."  As  if  Gomez  and  6,000  men  could  dis 
appear  and  move  around  unobserved  in  a  district  hardly  larger  than 
Long  Island.  Gomez's  move  doubtless  caused  some  embarrassment 
in  the  official  reports,  because  they  had  him  "  driven  "  desperately 
into  Santa  Clara  two  weeks  before,  then  he  was  being  "  harassed  " 
back  again  and  was  "  forced  to  make  a  union  with  Maceo,"  and  later 
on  they  were  "  forced  to  separate."  While  Maceo  was  being  fought 
and  dispersed  at  every  point  on  his  invasion,  Gomez  was  standing  at 
a  point  near  the  centre  of  Matanzas  watching  the  successful  beginning 
of  Maceo's  march,  and  for  some  reason  the  reports  dropped  him 


PEN-PICTURES   OF   THE   WAR.  201 

there.  The  reference  to  his  being  "  believed  to  be  "  in  this  province 
may  have  been  due  to  the  disappointment  of  his  having  gone  into 
Santa  Clara  while  all  attention  was  being  directed  toward  Maceo. 

The  Spanish  merchants  of  Havana  raised  a  subscription  in  the 
shape  of  pledges,  with  the  purpose  of  offering  a  reward  of  $50,000 
for  "  the  head  of  Gomez,  dead  or  alive,"  and  $30,000  for  the  head  of 
Maceo,  under  the  same  conditions.  This  was  generally  considered 
as  one  of  the  most  practical  suggestions  which  had  been  made  for 
ending  the  war. 

This  horrible  proclamation  was  issued  at  Holguin  about  the  2Oth  of 
March  :  "  Be  it  known,  that  all  the  forces  who  operate  in  the  territory 
of  this  division  have  orders  to  fire  without  giving  the  halt  to  any  per 
son  who  travels  at  night  on  the  roads  outside  of  the  cities  and  towns, 
and  with  the  object  of  preventing  any  accidents  this  publication  is 
made  for  general  knowledge." 

The  butcheries  of  Balmaceda  and  every  ghastly  chapter  of  the  ten 
years  of  blood  were  committed  under  a  decree  of  which  this  was  sim 
ply  a  reiteration.  Gen.  March,  who  issued  this  decree,  was  a  recent 
arrival  in  Cuba,  and  was  in  command  of  the  Twenty-third  Division 
of  the  First  Army  Corps.  He  held  the  rank  of  brigadier-general. 

Sanctioned  by  the  Spanish.  General. 

This  bloody  edict  had  the  indirect  sanction  of  Gen.  Weyler, 
because  he  had  not  abrogated  it,  and  because  in  his  proclamations  he 
conferred  almost  unlimited  powers  upon  the  commanders  of  army 
corps,  and  they  in  turn  issued  decrees  and  approved  others  published 
by  the  heads  of  their  divisions.  As  a  consequence,  scores  of  procla 
mations  were  coming  out  in  all  the  provinces  and  zones  of  the  Island, 
Vhich  carried  the  weight  and  authority  of  a  proclamation  from  the 
Captain-general,  but  which  were  thus  given  in  a  form  that  avoided  the 
necessity  of  their  coming  to  the  eyes  of  the  world  with  his  signature. 

There  was  no  distinction  of  age  or  sex  in  Gen.  March's  decree. 
There  was  no  responsibility  placed  upon  the  assassins  who  were  thus 
given  the  lives  of  those  whose  homes  were  outside  the  cities,  or  who, 
for  any  cause  whatsoever,  passed  out  of  the  doors  of  their  houses 


202  PEN-PICTURES   OF   THE   WAR. 

after  sunset.  There  was  no  reason  that  the  ruffians  who  were  abusing 
thousands  upon  thousands  of  defenseless  women  and  girls  should 
leave  any  evidences  of  their  crimes,  or  even  await  the  absence  of 
natural  protectors.  The  robberies  which  so  many  Spaniards  were 
protesting  against  in  delegations  which  were  visiting  Gen.  Weyler 
almost  daily,  were  of  course  made  safe  by  such  a  decree.  Col. 
Molina's  threatening  to  shoot  down  the  owner  of  the  Rosario 
estate,  Ramon  Pelayos,  was  something  for  which  he  did  not  have 
to  answer,  as  he  was  safe  under  a  similar  decree  covering  the  sec 
tion  of  Matanzas  province. 

Thirsting  for  Blood. 

There  are  Americans  all  through  the  Island,  and  naturalized 
Americans  of  Cuban  birth  (the  distinction  is  simply  in  the  degree  of 
the  hatred  which  the  Spanish  have  for  both),  who  might  safely  be  put 
out  of  the  way  under  a  decree  which  said  that  every  person  should 
be  killed  without  even  a  challenge.  This  was  the  state  of  affairs 
which  the  blood-thirsty  "  volunteers  "  had  been  crying  for  since  the 
day  that  they  welcomed  Gen.  Weyler' s  landing.  Then  they  stood  in 
front  of  the  Palace  bellowing,  "  Give  us  Cepero's  head,"  and,  "  Blood 
to  fertilize  Cuba."  Now  they  were  following  the  prisoners  who  were 
brought  into  the  towns,  screaming  :  tl  Kill  them  !  Kill  the  devilish 
insurgents  !  We  want  no  more  prisoners." 

A  batch  of  prisoners,  pinioned  and  tied  arm  to  arm,  were  attacked 
by  a  mob  at  the  Machina  as  they  were  about  to  be  taken  from  a 
steamer  to  the  Cabanas  and  were  beaten,  kicked  and  bruised  almost 
to  death,  while  the  guards  stood  by  and  looked  on.  If  this  was  per 
mitted  in  Havana,  what  could  be  expected  beyond  the  city,  where 
the  whole  Island  was  in  darkness  concerning  the  events  that  were 
taking  place  ? 

Every  day  made  matters  worse.  The  Guatao  massacre  resulted  in 
the  bestowal  of  honors  upon  the  Marquis  of  Cevera  by  making  him 
the  military  governor  of  Marianao,  and  Capt.  Calvo,  whom  he  sent  to 
Guatao,  and  whose  men  committed  the  eighteen  murders,  was  now  in 
command  of  the  troops,  which  were  placed  at  the  disposition  of  the 


PEN-PICTURES   OF  THE  WAR.  203 

Marquis.  The  massacre  on  the  Delgado  estate,  from  which  the 
American  Dr.  Delgado  escaped  miraculously,  but  not  until  four  boys 
and  two  men  had  been  shot  and  macheted  to  death,  and  an  old  man 
of  70  had  been  left  for  dead,  was  rapidly  being  forgotten,  and  Gen. 
Melguizo  was  still  conducting  the  operations  of  his  columns,  and 
glorious  victories  were  almost  daily  attributed  to  him  in  the  Spanish 
official  reports. 

These  reports  described  the  Delgado  massacre,  and  the  murder  of 
15-year-old  Catarino  Rubio,  before  her  mother  and  sisters,  while  she 
was  attempting  to  prevent  the  soldiers,  who  had  shot  her  father,  from 
stripping  his  body,  as  "victories"  of  General  Melguizo's  forces.  Rape 
and  death  and  destruction  were  sweeping  over  the  western  end  of 
Cuba,  annihilating  the  population  or  driving  the  people  out  of  the 
country,  and  what  property  the  insurgents  were  not  destroying  was 
being  given  to  the  firebrand  by  the  Spanish. 

Details  of  Another  Massacre. 

There  were  rumors  of  another  massacre  which  was  said  to  have 
occurred  near  the  estate  Esperanza,  in  the  Sagua  district.  It  was 
impossible  to  get  any  reliable  details,  but  the  following  was  published 
in  the  Discussion,  a  Havana  newspaper: — "  Major  Goicochea,  on  the 
1 6th,  left  the  estate  Esperanza  with  a  detachment  of  guerrillas,  and 
found  a  vanguard,  which  fired  upon  them.  They  rushed  at  them  with 
machetes  after  the  discharge,  causing  them  a  loss  of  six.  Continuing  the 
march,  the  column  arrived  at  Bernigal,  near  to  the  Olayita  estate, 
encountering  the  main  body  of  the  rebel  force.  Here  an  engagement 
took  place,  resulting  in  the  dispersing  of  the  enemy,  and  causing 
them  nine  more  dead.  I  must  remark,"  concludes  the  correspondent, 
"that  the  dead  were  all  killed  by  machetes,  and  by  the  guerrilla 
Goicochea." 

A  force  of  Havana  volunteers,  under  the  command  of  Major  Pru- 
dencia  Noreiga,  burned  the  buildings  where  the  tenants  lived  on  the 
San  Jose  estate  in  Manacas,  Santa  Clara,  and  then  obliged  the  home 
less  people  to  go  to  the  town  of  Placetas,  where  they  might  find 
shelter  and  food  if  they  happened  to  have  any  friends.  Before  send- 


204  PEN-PICTURES   OF   THE   WAR. 

ing  them  off  they  made  five  of  the  men  prisoners  on  the  charge  that 
they  were  insurgents,  although  one  of  them,  Fermin  Urrutia,  was 
eighty  years  old. 

The  last  that  was  ever  seen  of  these  prisoners  alive  was  when  some 
friends  saw  them  digging  a  ditch  around  the  fort  at  the  Tahon  Railway 
station,  and  the  next  morning  five  bodies  were  found  dead  on  the  San 
Pablo  estate,  so  hacked  with  machete  cuts  that  they  were  disfigured  be 
yond  recognition.  In  the  pocket  of  one  was  a  paper  showing  him 
to  be  Marcelino  Herandez,  one  of  the  five  prisoners.  After  this 
became  known,  the  women  who  had  gone  on  to  Placetas  sent 
Nicholas  Valdivia  to  the  commander,  Noreiga,  to  ask  what  had 
become  of  their  husbands.  Valdivia  was  seen  to  enter  the  fort,  but 
he  was  not  heard  of  afterward. 

Unprovoked  Murder. 

After  General  Prat  was  unsuccessful  in  capturing  Maceo  in  the 
attempted  combination  near  Coliseo,  a  detachment  rode  up  to  the 
Demante  estate,  owned  by  Laureano  Angulo,  and  fired  at  four  negroes 
who  were  standing  near  one  of  the  buildings.  They  were  all  killed. 
One  of  them  was  holding  a  boy  in  his  arms,  who  escaped.  There 
was  never  any  explanation  of  this,  but  it  is  supposed  the  Spanish 
troops  believed  they  were  spies.  The  people  who  had  fled  from  the 
country  into  Matanzas,  and  some  of  them  who  came  on  to  Havana, 
declared  that  the  men  were  "  pacific?. dos,"  or  farm  hands,  who  were 
non-combatants. 

The  following  graphic  portraiture  of  General  Weyler  is  from  the 
pen  of  a  journalist  and  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  Spanish 
commander : 

"  Most  men  resemble  their  reputations,  and  if  a  life  famously  spent 
is  in  the  mind  of  one  who  visits  a  character  of  world-wide  repute,  he 
quite  naturally  discovers  peculiarities  of  facial  expression  and  phy 
sique  which  appear  to  account  for  the  individuality  of  the  man, 
fighter,  philosopher,  criminal,  reformer  or  whatever  he  may  be. 

"All  this  is  true  of  General  Weyler.  He  is  one  of  those  men  who 
create  a  first  impression,  the  first  sight  of  whom  never  can  be  effaced 


PEN-PICTURES   OF  THE  WAR.  205 

from  the  mind,  by  whose  presence  the  most  careless  observer  is 
impressed  instantly,  and  yet,  taken  altogether,  he  is  a  man  in  whom 
the  elements  of  greatness  are  concealed  under  a  cloak  of  impene 
trable  obscurity.  Inferior  physically,  unsoldierly  in  bearing,  exhibit 
ing  no  trace  of  refined  sensibilities  nor  pleasure  in  the  gentle  associa 
tions  that  others  live  for  or  at  least  seek  as  diversions,  he  is  neverthe 
less  the  embodiment  of  mental  acuteness,  crafty,  unscrupulous,  fear 
less  and  of  indomitable  perseverance. 

"  He  is  one  of  the  most  magnetic  men  in  whose  presence  I  have 
ever  stood — yet  not  attractive.  His  overwhelming  personality  is 
irresistible — yet  he  is  unpleasant  of  appearance.  He  turns  the  mind 
into  a  quick  seeker  for  similarities,  and  one  cornes  quickly.  To  me 
it  was  Marat.  I  have  never  seen  a  presentation  of  Marat  that  might 
not  profitably  be  exchanged  for  a  delineation  of  Weyler.  It  would 
account  more  satisfactorily  for  the  power  he  attained — that  domina 
tion  of  men  with  which  it  is  so  hard  to  candidly  associate  those  pic 
tures  of  the  tyrant  that  are  familiar  to  the  stage. 

No  Appeal  from  Weyler's  Decree. 

"I  am  not  saying  that  Weyler  is  a  second  Marat;  but  I  recall 
Weyler's  history,  and  that  now  his  will  is  life  or  death  to  over  a 
million  and  a  half  of  people,  that  from  his  decree  there  is  no  appeal, 
that  the  making  of  the  laws  has  been  given  to  him  by  a  decree  so 
absolute  that  he  may  confer  all  his  powers  upon  any  subordinate. 

"  I  have  talked  with  Campos,  Marin  and  Weyler,  the  three  Cap 
tains-General  to  whom  Spain  has  intrusted  (thus  far  unsuccessfully) 
the  reconquest  of  Cuba.  Reconquest  seems  an  ill-chosen  word,  but 
one  of  General  Weyler's  staff  has  so  denominated  this  war,  and  Cuban 
revolutions  can  be  settled  only  by  conquests.  Campos  was  an  excep 
tional  man.  Marin  was  commonplace.  Weyler  is  unique.  Campos 
and  Marin  affected  gold  lace,  dignity  and  self-conciousness.  Weyler 
ignores  them  all  as  useless,  unnecessary  impediments,  if  anything,  to 
the  one  object  of  his  existence.  Campos  was  fat,  good-natured,  wise, 
philosophical,  slow  in  his  mental  processes,  clear  in  his  judgment, 
emphatic  in  his  opinions,  outspoken,  and  withal,  lovable,  humane, 


206  PEN-PICTURES   OF  THE   WAR. 

conservative,  constructive,  progressive,  with  but  one  project  ever 
before  him,  the  glorification  of  Spain  as  a  mother-land  and  a  figure 
among  peaceful,  enlightened  nations. 

"  Weyler  is  lean,  diminutive,  shriveled,  ambitious  for  immortality 
irrespective  of  its  odor,  a  master  of  diplomacy,  the  slave  of  Spain 
for  the  glory  of  sitting  at  the  right  of  her  throne,  unlovable,  unloving, 
exalted — and  doubtless  justly — in  self-esteem,  because  he  is  un- 
mistaken  in  his  estimation  of  his  value  to  his  Queen,  His  passion  is 
success,  per  se,  foul  or  fair  consequences  or  the  conventional  ideas  of 
humanity  notwithstanding. 

His  Mental  Peculiarities. 

"  Imagine  that  man  ever  loving  a  woman !  That  is  the  first  exclama 
tion  his  presence  suggests.  They  say  that  Weyler  had  a  mother,  and 
that  he  loved  her.  I  know,  for  I  have  heard  him  say  so,  that  he  re 
members  something  of  his  grandfather,  who  was  a  German,  whence 
came  his  name.  But  there  is  not  enough  blood  in  his  frail  little  body 
to  warm  into  life  those  passions  that  revere  the  closer  relations  of 
womanhood,  and  mentally  he  is  incapable  of  intellectual  affections. 
What  he  lives  for  is  completely  epitomized  in  his  person,  and  as 
others  have  been,  I  also  was  conscious  of  it  the.  first  time  I  saw  him. 

"  That  was  in  the  Palace,  of  course.  The  gates  were  guarded  by 
gaudy  soldiers  tinseled  and  polished.  Every  turn  in  the  stairway 
and  corridors  was  emblazoned  with  the  arms  and  emblem  of  Spain. 
Officers  of  all  ranks,  groomed,  barbered  and  powdered,  were  visible  in 
scores.  In  the  great  Sala  de  Recibimiento  were  all  military  condi 
tions  from  lieutenants  to  generals,  whose  hushed  conversation  and 
functional  palaver  were  oppressive.  On  through  this  crowd  and 
through  more  obstacles  of  formality  to  the  presentation,  the  journey 
through  the  forest  of  gold  lace  terminated  before  the  closed  door  of 
General  Weyler's  official  abode.  There  an  adjutant  more  bedizzened 
than  the  rest  of  the  dazzling  multitude  trod  softly  to  the  portico,  gently 
opened  the  way,  retired  again  without  a  word,  and  we  were  alone 
in  the  presence  of  the  man. 

"  And  what  a  picture  !     A  little  man.     An  apparition  of  blacks-- 


PEN-PICTURES   OF   THE   WAR.  207 

black  eyes,  black  hair,  black  beard,  dark — exceedingly  dark — com 
plexion  ;  a  plain  black  attire,  black  shoes,  black  tie,  a  very  dirty  shirt 
and  soiled  standing  collar,  with  no  jewelry  and  not  a  relief  from  the 
aspect  of  darkness  anywhere  on  his  person.  He  was  alone,  and 
was  standing  facing  the  door  I  entered.  He  had  taken  a  position  in 
the  very  centre  of  the  room,  and  seemed  lost  in  its  immense  depths. 
It  is  capable  of  holding  four  hundred  people.  Its  vast  marble  floor 
is  vacant  of  furniture,  and  its  walls,  of  great  height,  are  covered  with 
portraits,  larger  than  life,  of  the  captains-general  of  Cuba  during  one 
hundred  and  twenty  years.  Voices  echo  in  the  cavernous  chamber, 
and  the  ancient  personages  looked  down  upon  an  invasion  of  their 
quarter  almost  as  if  they,  too,  were  receiving,  with  the  living  picture 
which  will  some  day  hang  among  them.  It  was  like  a  stage-setting 
around  this  remarkable  man. 

Form  and  Features.- 

'It  is  not  remarkable  that  I  momentarily  hesitated  to  make  certain 
that  this  was  actually  Weyler.  Doubt  was  dispelled  with  a  look  at 
his  face.  His  eyes,  far  apart,  bright,  alert  and  striking,  took  me  in  at 
a  glance.  His  face  seemed  to  run  to  chin,  his  lower  jaw  protruding 
far  beyond  any  ordinary  indication  of  firmness,  persistence  or  will 
power.  His  forehead  is  neither  high  nor  receding ;  neither  is  it  that 
of  a  thoughtful  or  philosophic  man.  His  ears  are  set  far  back ;  and 
what  is  called  the  region  of  intellect,  in  which  are  those  mental 
attributes  that  might  be  denned  as  powers  of  observation,  calculation, 
judgment  and  execution,  is  strongly  developed.  The  conformation 
of  his  head,  however,  is  not  one  that  is  generally  accepted  as  an 
indication  of  any  marked  possession  of  philoprogenitiveness  or  its 
kindred  emotions  and  inclinations.  His  nose  is  aquiline,  bloodless 
and  obtrusive.  When  he  speaks  it  is  with  a  high  nasal  enunciation 
that  is  not  disagreeable,  because  it  is  not  prolonged ;  and  his  sen 
tences  justify  every  impression  that  has  already  been  formed  of  the 
man.  They  were  short,  crisp,  emphatic  and  expressive. 

"  '  I  have  an  aversion  to  speech,'  he  said.  '  I  am  an  enemy  of  pub 
lications.  I  prefer  to  act,  not  to  talk.  I  am  here  to  restore  peace, 


208  PEN-PICTURES   OF  THE  WAR. 

When  peace  is  in  the  land  I  am  going  away.  I  aM  a  soldier. 
When  I  am  gone  politicians  will  reconstruct  Cuba,  and  probably 
they  will  upset  things  again  until  they  are  as  bad  as  they  are  now. 
I  care  not  for  America,  England — any  one — but  only  for  the  treaties 
we  have  with  them.  They  are  the  law.  I  observe  the  law  and 
every  letter  of  the  law.  I  have  my  ideas  of  Cuba's  relation  to  Spain. 
I  have  never  expressed  them.  Some  politicians  would  agree  with 
them ;  others  would  not.  No  one  would  agree  with  all  of  them.  I 
know  I  am  merciless,  but  mercy  has  no  place  in  war.  I  know  the 
reputation  which  has  been  built  up  for  me.  Things  that  are  charged 
to  me  were  done  by  officers  under  me,  and  I  was  held  responsible  for 
all  things  in  the  ten-years'  war,  including  its  victorious  end.  I  do  not 
conceal  the  fact  that  I  am  here  solely  because  it  is  believed  I  can 
crush  this  insurrection.  I  care  not  what  is  said  about  me,  unless  it 
is  a  lie  so  grave  as  to  occasion  alarm.  I  am  not  a  politician.  I  am 
Weyler.' 

"  Planted  squarely  on  his  tiny  feet,  which  were  set  far  apart,  Gen. 
Weyler  talks  with  his  hands  in  his  trousers'  pockets  and  a  half  smile 
dimly  playing  over  his  features ;  but  every  word  he  utters  is  without 
gesture  or  intonation  which  gives  one  thought  the  slightest  emphasis 
or  importance  over  another.  The  great  pictures  of  the  captains-gen 
eral  of  a  hundred  years  seem  to  look  down  in  admiration  upon  the 
man  in  whose  keeping  Spain  has  intrusted  all  that  their  century  of 
labor  has  produced. 

"  For  some  reason  there  was  no  disposition  on  my  part  to  reply  in 
those  meaningless,  commonplace  but  always  necessary  acknowledg 
ments  of  courtesy.  Adroit  phrases  mean  nothing  to  Weyler.  I  was 
frozen  by  his  atmosphere  for  the  moment  into  a  being  remotely 
resembling  himself,  and  as  dignifiedly,  concisely,  unconsciously  per 
haps  as  the  tone  of  his  conversation,  I  made  the  requests  which  had 
led  to  my  visit  and  retired.  There  again  was  the  sea  of  gold  lace, 
the  multitude  of  generals  and  lieutenants,  the  noisy  clanking  of  swords 
and  spurs,  the  gaudy  guards  at  the  gate,  all  keeping  up  the  appear 
ances  of  military  domination  ;  but  behind  them  in  the  recesses  of  the 
Palace  was  the  man,  the  memory,  the  Altogether  of  Spain  in  Cuba." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Side-Lights  upon  the  Struggle. 

THE  intense  sympathy  for  Cuba  among  the  American  people  was 
voiced  by  the  following  editorial  in  one  of  our  most  widely- 
circulated  journals,  which  was  only  one  of  many  similar  in 
sentiment  that  appeared  in  the  newspaper  press  throughout  the 
country :  "  Cuba  bleeds  at  every  pore,  and  Liberty  goes  weeping 
through  a  land  desolated  by  cruel  war  and  throttled  by  the  iron  hand 
of  a  foreign  despotism.  We  hold  that  this  government  would  be 
justified  not  only  in  recognizing  Cuban  belligerency,  but  also  in 
recognizing  Cuban  independence  on  the  sole  ground  of  the  rights 
and  claims  of  outraged  humanity.  Take,  for  instance,  the  following 
proclamation  of  an  almost  general  death  sentence  issued  by  Butcher 
Weyler : 

'  Those  who  invent  or  circulate,  by  any  means  whatsoever,  news 
or  information  which  directly  or  indirectly  favors  the  rebellion. 

" '  Those  who  destroy  or  damage  railroads,  telegraph  or  telephone 
lines,  or  interrupt  communication  by  destroying  bridges  or  wagon- 
roads. 

"  '  Those  who  sell,  carry  or  deliver  arms  or  ammunition,  or  in  any 
other  way  furnish  or  keep  them  in  their  possession.  Persons  know 
ing  of  the  importing  of  such  articles  and  not  causing  their  seizure 
incur  criminal  responsibility. 

'  Those  who  by  word,  or  through  print,  or  in  any  other  manner 
belittle  the  prestige  of  Spain's  army,  volunteers,  firemen  or  any  other 
force  operating  in  this  army. 

'  Those  who  by  the  same  means  endeavor  to  praise  the  enemy. 
'  Those  who  furnish  the  enemy  horses  or  other  means  of  service 
in  warfare. 

"  '  Those  who  act  as  spies. 
U 


210  SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE   STRUGGLE. 

"  '  Those  who,  having  acted  as  rebel  guides,  fail  to  report  imme 
diately  and  prove  that  they  were  compelled  to  do  so  by  force,  fur 
nishing  on  the  spot  proofs  of  their  loyalty. 

"  '  Those  who  adulterate  provisions  for  the  army  or  combine  to 
raise  the  price  of  the  same. 

"  '  Those  who  use  carrier  pigeons,  rockets  or  other  signals  to  con 
vey  news  to  the  enemy.' 

"Then  take  Weyler's  proclamation  of  February  16,  in  which  he 
decreed  that  'all  the  rural  population  must  be  driven  within  the 
Spanish  lines,  and  that  all  the  goods  of  country  merchants  should  be 
conveyed  to  the  Spanish  garrisons.'  In  consequence  of  Weyler's 
barbarous  decrees  the  most  harrowing  scenes  of  savagery  and  bru 
tality  are  of  almost  daily  occurrence  in  this  beautiful  Island,  which  is 
situated  a  hundred  miles  from  our  Florida  coast  line.  In  the  midst 
of  these  horrifying  and  terrorizing  spectacles  Cuba  extends  her  hands 
in  supplication  to  this  land  of  boasted  freedom,  asking  for  only  a 
kindly  glance  of  friendly  recognition. 

Americans  cannot  be  Neutral. 

"  Shall  we  refuse  them  this  small  crumb  of  comfort  from  our  boun 
teous  board  ?  Spain  may  have  the  right  to  expect  American  neutral 
ity,  but  she  has  no  right  to  demand  indifference  on  our  part  to  the 
fate  of  a  brave  people,  whose  territory  almost  touches  our  own,  and 
is  nearer  to  our  National  capital  than  are  a  number  of  the  States  of 
the  Union,  and  whose  heroic  struggle  for  liberty  was  largely  inspired 
by  our  glorious  example  of  beneficent  free  institutions  and  successful 
self-government. 

"  Spanish  rule  in  Cuba  has  been  characterized  by  injustice,  oppres 
sion,  extortion  and  demoralization.  She  has  fettered  the  energies  of 
the  people,  while  she  has  fattened  upon  their  industry.  She  smiled 
but  to  smite,  and  embraced  but  to  crush.  She  has  disheartened 
exertion,  disqualified  merit  and  destroyed  patience  and  forbearance, 
by  supporting  in  riotous  luxury  a  horde  of  foreign  officials  at  the  ex 
pense  of  native  industry  and  frugality. 

"Then  the  climax  of  Cuba's  wrongs  and  woes  is  reached  in  the 


SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE   STRUGGLE.  211 

advent  of  the  bloody  Weyler,  who  has  turned  the  battle  into  a 
butchery,  made  war  a  double  crime  by  justifying  in  its  name  whole 
sale  rapine  and  murder,  and  transformed  the  honest  soldier  into  a 
heartless  brigand  and  a  fiendish  assassin. 

"  Spain  has  inverted  social  order,  defiled  domestic  purity,  outraged 
civic  forms  and  laid  waste  the  whole  Island  to  satisfy  an  appetite  for 
plunder  and  spoils  that  is  as  cruel  as  it  is  insatiable.  Irritated  into 
resistance,  the  Cubans  are  now  the  intended  victims  of  increased 
injustice.  But  the  inhuman  design  will  fail  of  accomplishment. 
Cuban  patriotism  develops  with  the  growth  of  oppression.  The 
aspiration  for  freedom  increases  in  proportion  to  the  weight  of  its 
multiplied  chains.  The  dawn  of  Cuban  liberty  is  rapidly  approaching." 

Spanish  Soldiers  Missing. 

Some  idea  of  the  loose  manner  in  which  the  war  is  carried  on  may 
be  gained  from  the  statement  in  official  circles  at  Havana  that  there 
were  15,000  Spanish  soldiers  missing  somewhere  in  Cuba.  The  fact 
was  communicated  to  the  Madrid  government,  and  the  search  for 
their  whereabouts  went  on  day  and  night.  They  were,  perhaps,  lost 
only  so  far  as  the  record  was  concerned,  and  might  be  accounted  for 
in  time,  but  such  carelessness,  or  worse,  upset  official  circles  in  Havana 
to  something  approaching  a  state  of  alarm,  for  15,000  men,  with 
15,000  rifles  and  half  a  million  cartridges,  is  an  enormous  item  in  the 
Spanish  army. 

The  disappearance  of  the  men  would  ultimately  be  traced,  it  was 
said,  to  one  of  three  causes  :  Deaths  in  battle,  the  real  number  of 
which  was  concealed  to  hide  Spanish  losses ;  details  to  positions  in 
various  parts  of  the  Island,  of  which  no  record  had  been  kept ;  or 
desertions  to  join  the  insurgents.  Very  likely  all  three  causes  con 
tributed  to  the  discrepancy.  It  is  entirely  improbable  that  the  whole 
15,000  took  "to  the  woods,"  although  the  Spanish  records  showed 
that  entire  garrisons  joined  the  insurgents  with  their  arms  in  every 
province  in  the  Island. 

Possibly  the  extent  of  this  loss  was  purposely  kept  out  of  the 
records,  although  there  was  no  reason  that,  officially,  it  should  not  be 


212  SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE  STRUGGLE. 

known  to  the  administration.  It  was  said  that  Campos  stationed 
small  bodies  of  fifty  or  a  hundred  men  in  numerous  places,  often  doing 
so  in  circumstances  which  resulted  in  no  official  record  of  the  division 
of  a  detachment  being  placed  in  the  books  at  the  Palace ;  but  careless 
ness  of  that  nature  on  such  a  grand  scale  not  only  seems  out  of  the 
question,  but  the  balance  would  have  been  shov/n  as  a  result  of  the 
order  issued  by  General  Weyler  for  a  report  from  every  commander 
showing  the  number,  position  and  condition  of  his  force. 

How  to  Account  for  It. 

The  responses  to  this  increased  the  confusion,  and  there  were  re 
ports  from  reliable  sources  that  there  were  20,000  men,  instead  of 
15,000,  to  be  accounted  for.  The  supposition  that  many  losses  in 
engagements  were  not  sent  in  received  support  from  the  known  falsity 
of  those  reports,  which  was  repeatedly  pointed  out.  That  700 
Spanish  should  attack  5,000  insurgents,  that  a  battle  lasting  seven 
hours  should  ensue,  and  that  only  one  Spanish  soldier  should  be 
wounded  (as  was  told  in  a  report  from  Santa  Clara)  indicated  that  the 
Spanish  soldiers  had  charmed  lives,  or  that  an  enormous  amount  of 
lying  was  being  done.  How  far  this  was  carried  on  in  the  past  can 
be  shown  by  a  few  figures,  and  they  may  account  for  the  present 
difficulty. 

During  the  ten  years'  war,  a  professor  of  languages  in  Havana, 
an  American  of  Cuban  birth,  kept  systematically  a  record  of  the 
Cuban  losses  reported  in  the  authorized  publications  in  Havana.  He 
made  it  all  in  detail,  giving  the  date  of  each  engagement,  the  locality, 
the  number  of  men  on  each  side,  and  the  Cuban  losses  in  killed, 
wounded,  prisoners  and  horses.  At  the  end  of  the  war  his  totals 
were  as  follows:  Cuban  losses — 395,856  killed,  726,490  wounded, 
451,000  prisoners,  and  a  little  over  800,000  horses  killed  or  captured. 
The  entire  population  of  the  Island  was  only  a  million  and  a  quarter 
in  the  most  liberal  figures  obtainable,  or  less  than  the  number  of 
killed,  wounded  and  prisoners  ! 

In  curious  contrast  with  this  are  the  Spanish  figures  of  their  own 
losses,  which  follow.  To  show  their  real  significance  we  give  also 


SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE  STRUGGLE.  213 

the  number  of  men  the  Spanish  army  had  in  the  Island  during  each 

of  the  years  for  which  the  losses  are  given : 

Losses. 

1869 5,504 

1870 9,395 

1871 6,574 

1872 7,780 

1873 5.902 

1874 5,923 

1875 * 6,361 

1876 8,482 

1877 17,677 

1878 7,500 

Total 81,098         625,211 

Of  this  number,  the  official  record  indicates  that  only  6,488  died  in 
battle  or  from  wounds.  In  other  words,  92  per  cent,  of  the  Spanish 
losses  were  from  fever.  There  never  was  a  time  when  less  than  14 
per  cent,  of  the  army  was  in  hospitals,  and  in  1874  18  per  cent,  of 
the  force  was  ineffective  from  sickness. 

Comparing  the  Losses. 

"  A  comparison  of  these  losses,"  says  a  reliable  authority,  "  with 
the  alleged  Cuban  loss  is  hardly  more  interesting  than  a  comparison 
with  the  Spanish  losses  in  this  present  war.  The  conflict  has  lasted 
just  one  year.  The  Spanish  losses  are  now  given  for  the  twelve 
months  as  3,500,  or  at  the  extreme  4,000,  killed  or  mortally  wounded. 
The  exact  figures  cannot  be  available  until  the  present  cases  in  hos 
pitals  have  completed  their  record.  This  is,  at  the  higher  figures, 
only  4  per  cent,  and  a  fraction  of  losses  from  all  causes,  out  of  her 
army  of  113,000.  The  lowest  percentage  reported  in.  the  ten  years' 
war  was  9!  in  1874,  and  the  highest  19  and  a  fraction  in  1876. 
The  curious  differences  here  may  be  disposed  of  on  the  basis  that 
eighteen  years  have  intervened  between  the  two  wars,  that  the  im 
proved  methods  of  dealing  death  have  been  introduced,  that  hospitals 
are  better,  and  that  the  deficient  arms  of  the  insurgents  are  to  be 
taken  into  consideration. 


214  SIDE-LIGHTS  UPON  THE  STRUGGLE. 

"  Howevc/,  the  relative  conditions  of  the  two  armies  more  closely 
resemble  each  other  than  would  at  first  be  supposed,  and  where  they 
do  differ  they  indicate  that  the  record  of  Spanish  losses  in  this  war 
should  be  greater  than  reported,  and  greater  proportionately  than  it 
was  in  the  ten  years'  war.  In  both  wars  the  insurgents  have  man 
aged  to  keep  themselves  armed  with  practically  the  same  weapons  as 
their  adversaries  have  had.  Their  cry  now  is  that  they  have  not 
enough  or  they  would  have  an  army  of  100,000  men  in  the  field. 

"  In  the  ten  years'  war  nothing  like  the  present  extent  of  the  revo 
lution  was  attained.  Gomez  was  only  as  far  west  as  Matanzas, 
retreating  instantly.  To-day  the  whole  Island  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
Cubans,  except  a  few  cities.  Even  Havana  is  in  a  state  of  siege,  for 
the  first  time  in  100  years." 

Mainly  Due  to  Volunteers. 

The  danger  to  American  citizens,  and  the  brutal  outrages  outside 
Havana,  like  the  massacre  at  Guatao,  were  due  chiefly  to  the  volun 
teers  recruited  for  the  Spanish  army  right  in  Cuba.  The  regular 
Spanish  soldiers  were  either  officers  doing  their  best,  according  to  their 
ideas,  to  save  their  country,  or  else  were  recruits  who  were  utterly 
apathetic  and  were  chiefly  food  for  fever  and  the  machete.  It  was  the 
brutish  rabble  of  the  dregs  of  Cuba  that  resorted  to  robbery  and 
crime  of  every  description — criminals  whose  only  object  in  joining 
the  army  was  the  commission  of  crime  on  defenseless  people — but 
the  Spanish  commanders  were  directly  and  personally  to  blame  for 
their  presence  in  the  Spanish  ranks,  even  Martinez  Campos  having 
recruited  as  many  of  these  undesirable  wretches  as  he  could  get  hold 
of.  Campos  kept  them  under  control,  in  some  measure,  in  connec 
tion  with  the  regulars ;  but  Weyler  turned  them  loose  in  the  rural 
districts. 

General  Campos  admitted  that  the  volunteers  onlr  'tfere  to  be 
feared,  and  that  Americans  did  not  need  to  concern  themselves.  At 
that  time  the  danger  was  comparatively  small.  General  Marin,  his 
successor,  went  so  far  when  Consul-General  Williams  brought  the 
subject  to  his  official  notice,  after  numerous  appeals  from  American 


SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE  STRUGGLE.  215 

residents,  as  to  say  :  "  If  it  should  become  necessary  I  will  use  the 
regulars  to  shoot  down  any  volunteers  that  attempt  excesses/' 

General  Weyler  was  sending  the  volunteers  out  of  the  city  in  great 
numbers,  but  several  regiments  remained  at  Havana.  They  were  a 
hot-headed,  ignorant,  thoughtless  mob,  compared  with  the  Spanish 
regulars,  and  were  a  continual  source  of  trouble  to  the  government. 
The  volunteers  prepared  to  send  their  colonels  to  Campos  to  demand 
that  he  adopt  sanguinary  methods  of  warfare,  but  Campos  sent  them 
word  that  any  officer  approaching  him  to  criticise  his  generalship 
would  be  court-martialed.  Then  it  was  that  the  complications  pro 
duced  by  these  volunteers  led  to  Campos'  retirement.  These  volun 
teers  made  up  the  mob  which  lined  the  streets  the  day  that  Weyler 
arrived,  yelling,  "  Blood  to  fertilize  Cuba.  Give  us  Cepero's  head  ! 
Cepero's  head  !  Cepero's  head  !  "  Cepero  was  the  American  citizen 
who  was  a  prisoner  of  war  in  Morro  Castle. 

Discussing  the  Action  of  Congress. 

Much  was  said  at  Havana  by  the  Spaniards  concerning  the  resolu 
tions  of  Congress  granting  rights  of  belligerents  to  the  Cubans. 
They  cordially  believed  that  the  American  people  had  a  single  selfish 
motive — the  tearing  of  Cuba  away  from  Spain.  They  admitted  that 
there  was  no  ground  for  the  charges  repeatedly  published,  that 
"  recognition  meant  friendly  assistance  to  organized  bandits  commit 
ting  murder,  arson  and  rape." 

They  declared  that  all  America  had  in  view  was  the  ultimate 
annexation  of  Cuba.  They  acknowledged  that  the  loss  would  be  so 
severe  to  Spain  that  she  would  hazard  all  her  resources  of  men  and 
money  until  she  could  fight  no  longer  to  hold  her  possession.  They 
felt  that  the  unjust  and  obtrusive  interference  of  the  United  States 
should  be  rebuked  by  other  nations  and  that  altercations  would 
occur  which  might  justify  Spain  in  declaring  war,  although  such  an 
issue  with  the  United  States  would  not  be  resorted  to  until  national 
honor  was  at  stake. 

An  incident  showed  the  treatment  accorded  to  newspaper  corres 
pondents  by  General  Weyler.  Two  of  these  were  arrested,  but  were 


216  SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE   STRUGGLE. 

subsequently  discharged.  Their  names  were  Michaelson  and  Betan- 
court. 

Their  release  was  only  provisional,  pending  the  result  of  the  inves 
tigation  on  the  charge  that  they  were  at  Guatao  on  the  fatal  day  of 
the  massacre  and  brought  the  news  to  Havana.  The  only  evidence 
against  them  was  the  report  that  two  American  correspondents  had 
managed  to  get  to  the  scene  of  the  massacre.  Michaelson  and 
Betancourt  had  been  at  Marianao,  half  way  to  Guatao,  where  the 
railroad  ends.  Marques  de  Cervera  received  a  call  from  them.  When 
he  was  requested  that  night,  in  a  message  from  Havana,  to  furnish 
information  as  to  who  had  been  permitted  to  go  to  Guatao,  he 
naturally  suspected,  having  knowledge  of  no  one  else  going  that  way, 
that  Michaelson  and  Betancourt  had  eluded  his  vigilance  and  passed 
along  chat  road.  There  was  no  other  evidence  in  the  matter. 

At  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  guards  of  soldiers  invaded  the  room 
«*f  each  man — Michaelson's  at  the  hotel  and  Betancourt's  at  his  home. 
They  made  a  thorough  search  in  each  case,  looking  through  every 
thing,  examining  every  scrap  of  paper,  peering  into  bureau  drawers, 
clothes-closets  and  everything.  This  process  lasted  two  hours,  so 
thorough  and  exhaustive  was  it,  and  they  found  absolutely  nothing 
to  sustain  the  position  of  the  authorities.  Nevertheless,  they  removed 
both  men  to  police  headquarters,  where  they  were  kept  until  6  A.  M., 
when  they  were  taken  in  row  boats  across  the  bay  to  Morro  Castle. 

There  they  were  placed  in  solitary  confinement  in  stone  dungeons, 
with  no  cots,  no  chairs,  no  blankets,  not  a  thing,  indeed,  to  relieve 
their  condition.  Mr.  Murat  Halstead  and  Consul-General  Williams 
hastened  to  General  Weyler  to  protest  against  this  high-handed  out 
rage  ;  but  they  were  unable  to  see  the  autocrat  until  5  p.  M.,  because 
he  was  out  calling  and  did  not  choose  to  have  his  social  engage 
ments  interfered  with  by  anything  so  trivial  as  duty  or  so  absurd  as 
humanity. 

When  these  two  gentlemen  were  finally  successful  in  getting  an 
audience  with  Weyler,  he  informed  them  that  the  offence  charged  to 
the  prisoners — which  was  that  of  telling  the  truth — was  very  grave, 
indeed,  and  that  it  would  take  three  days  at  least  to  investigate  it. 


SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE  STRUGGLE.  217 

At  the  end  of  two  days  they  were  released.  They  had  received 
blankets  and  hammocks  only  just  before  their  departure  from  Morro 
Castle,  and  too  late  to  do  them  any  good  in  their  stone  dungeons. 
No  liquor  or  tobacco  or  anything  else  was  sent  to  them  during  their 
incarceration,  except  some  food,  and  that  but  little. 

Gen.  Weyler  had  been  encouraged  by  the  course  of  events  after 
his  arrival,  and  cabled  to  his  home  government  to  that  effect.  The 
progress  of  Gomez  and  Maceo  back  into  Matanzas  and  toward  Santa 
Clara  was  interpreted  as  a  retreat  from  the  neighborhood  of  Havana. 
That  it  was  not  a  retreat,  but  rather  an  indication  that  they  were 
conducting  a  new  campaign,  which  the  Spanish  are  unable  to  check, 
is  shown  by  their  movements. 

The  Two  Generals  Separate. 

After  the  burning  of  Jaruco,  the  announcement  was  made  that  the 
Spanish  columns,  under  Gens.  Linares,  Prat,  Aldeco,  Col.  Hernandez 
and  others,  had  the  insurgents  hemmed  in ;  that  they  were  in  front 
of  them  to  prevent  their  going  back  into  Matanzas,  and  that  behind 
them  were  all  the  forces  at  Havana  and  along  the  trocha.  Maceo 
and  Gomez  separated  at  once,  Maceo  taking  a  northern  course,  and 
Gomez  paralleling  his  march  about  twenty  miles  southward,  and  then 
they  moved  eastward  simultaneously. 

They  burned  and  destroyed  every  obstruction  to  their  progress, 
tearing  up  the  railroads  to  prevent  the  transportation  of  the  Spanish 
troops,  and  fighting  at  Catalina,  Candela  Hills,  San  Nicholas,  Roque, 
Limonar,  Tosca  and  the  Guamacaro  Hills,  but  nothing  stopped  the 
progress  of  either.  Every  battle  was  reported  as  a  Spanish  victory, 
in  which  the  enemy  were  routed  or  dispersed  or  driven  back  ;  but 
the  mere  fact  that  the  Spanish  columns  were  still  in  front  and  re 
porting  encounters  daily,  and  that  Gomez  and  Maceo  were  moving 
irresistibly  forward  into  the  great  sugar  district,  revealed  the  true 
state  of  affairs. 

Their  purpose  in  going  there  was  disclosed  by  two  things.  Gen. 
Weyler,  upon  getting  them  surrounded  in  Havana  province  after 
Maceo  crossed  the  trocha,  issued  orders  to  the  planters  of  Matanzas 


218  SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE  STRUGGLE. 

and  Santa  Clara  to  begin  grinding  cane.  Gomez's  proclamation  for 
bade  their  doing  so,  and  they  had  stopped  to  save  their  estates  from 
being  burned.  Gen.  Weyler  gave  notice  that  by  March  15  the  Island 
would  be  so  cleared  up  that  they  would  be  safe  to  proceed,  but  in 
order  to  profit  by  the  thirty  days  which  would  intervene  between  his 
order  and  that  date,  he  requested  work  to  be  begun  at  once,  sup 
posing  he  could  hold  Gomez  and  Maceo  where  they  were  and  give 
the  planters  protection  in  the  meantime. 

Quintin  Bandera  started  at  once  with  2,000  cavalry  from  Sancft 
Spiritus,  and,  hurrying  by  thirty  miles  a  day  marches,  he  swept  into 
the  sugar  district  to  the  assistance  of  the  already  large  forces  of 
insurgents  there,  and,  encouraging  them  as  well  as  reinforcing  their 
numbers,  he  hurried  on  to  facilitate  the  progress  of  Gomez  and 
Maceo.  On  the  2ist  he  met  Gomez's  forces  near  Najasa,  for  the 
latter  had  advanced  more  rapidly  than  even  the  insurgents  anticipated, 
and  was  well  into  the  centre  of  the  province  of  Matanzas.  Maceo 
had  gotten  even  farther,  and  was  northeast  of  Gomez's  position,  one 
of  his  detachments  entering  Cardenas,  the  seaport  east  of  Matanzas, 
two  days  later. 

Sugar  Industry  Prevented. 

Bandera's  command  separated  at  once  and  came  into  Havana  pro 
vince.  Four  days  later  he  camped,  2,000  strong,  at  the  estate  Ben- 
igno,  Garcia  Aguiar,  in  the  district  of  Palma,  near  Sabanilla.  He 
moved  about  in  the  same  locality  that  Gomez  occupied  during 
Maceo's  absence  to  conduct  the  campaign  in  Pinar  del  Rio,  where  he 
waited  for  Maceo,  and  from  which  place  he  went  across  the  trocha  to 
Maceo's  assistance  in  clearing  the  way  for  the  return  of  the  latter's 
army. 

The  burning  of  cane  was  resumed.  Wherever  an  effort  was  made 
to  grind,  the  insurgents  destroyed  the  estates.  The  planters  were  in 
a  lamentable  situation.  If  they  attempted  to  grind,  they  were  faced 
first  by  the  absence  of  labor.  It  had  gone  to  the  woods,  or  fled  to 
Havana.  If  they  sent  cutters  into  the  fields  or  started  fires  under 
their  boilers,  the  fire-brand  was  at  hand.  If  they  did  not  make  any 


SIDE-LIGHTS  UPON   THE  STRUGGLE.  219 

attempt  they  would  be  "  considered  sympathizers  with  the  insurgents 
and  the  enemies  of  Spain  " — with  all  the  penalties.  After  everything 
else,  if  they  did  grind,  by  paying  the  Cuban  republic  for  the  privilege? 
the  railroads  were  destroyed,  and  not  a  pound  of  their  product  could 
be  transported  out  of  the  country. 

Early  in  March  Captain-General  Weyler  issued  the  following  pro 
clamation  : 

*'  I  have  promulgated  an  order  that  the  teachers  of  divinity  of  the 
Provinces  of  Matanzas,  Santa  Clara,  Puerto  Principe  and  Santiago  de 
Cuba,  who,  confessedly,  have  taken  part  in  the  movements  of  the  in 
surgents,  shall  be  pardoned  on  making  their  submission,  surrendering 
their  arms,  and  placing  themselves  under  the  surveillance  of  the  law 
ful  authority,  provided  they  have  not  committed  other  crimes  since 
the  issuance  of  my  last  proclamation.  It  will  be  a  commendable 
circumstance  that  these  submissions  may  be  made  by  bodies  of  those 
affected. 

Strict  Regulations. 

"  The  teachers  of  divinity  who,  without  arms,  shall  come  in  under 
the  same  circumstances,  will  be  immediately  transferred  to  the 
encampments,  forts,  towns,  and,  in  general,  where  they  may  be  under 
the  immediate  vigilance  of  the  troops,  and  all  the  teachers  shall  be 
under  the  control  of  the  commandants  in  whatever  jurisdiction  they 
may  be  assigned. 

"  A  record  of  those  so  attached  to  each  column,  encampment  or  fort 
v/ill  be  kept,  and  their  superiors  will  make  a  report  every  fifteen  days 
concerning  the  conduct  of  the  teachers,  and  will  determine  the  time 
at  which  they  will  be  permitted  to  reside  in  whatever  place  it  may  be 
deemed  advisable  to  conduct  them,  placing  them  under  the  supervi 
sion  of  the  local  authorities  or  making  any  other  disposition  of  them 
which  may  be  considered  proper. 

u  In  the  meantime  they  will  become  permanently  attached  to  the 
military  forces,  and  will  give  their  attentions  to  the  dying,  and  will  be 
entitled  to  such  rations  as  troops  in  the  field  or  traveling.  These 
directions  will  not  go  into  effect  in  the  provinces  of  Pinardel  Rio  and 
Ha,  ana  until  these  Provinces  have  extended  to  them  the  prevailing 


220  SIDE  LIGHTS  UPON   THE  STRUGGLE. 

law  in  the  case  of  those  who  deliver  themselves  up  to  the  authori 
ties.  WEYLER." 
"Havana,  March  5,  1896." 

Another  proclamation  was  as  follows  : 

"  I  make  known  to  our  harassed  troops  and  to  those  who  attempt 
to  demoralize  them  as  they  pursue  eastward  insurgent  parties  more 
numerous  than  those  whom  they  leave  in  the  Provinces  of  Pinar  del 
Rio  and  Havana,  that  the  time  has  arrived  to  pursue,  with  the  greatest 
activity  and  rigor,  the  little  bands,  more  of  outlaws  than  insurgents, 
who  have  remained  in  the  said  provinces,  and  to  adopt  whatever 
measures  are  necessary  for  the  proper  and  immediate  carrying  out  of 
that  intention.  I  hereby  order  : 

Disposition  of  Troops. 

"  First — That  the  troops  be  divided  into  columns  to  operate  in 
both  provinces,  and  that  the  '  Guardis  Civil '  be  re-established  on  the 
lines  of  that  now  existing  in  Pinar  del  Rio  and  in  a  part  of  Puerto 
Principe,  and  that  in  Havana  and  a  part  of  the  Province  of  Santiago 
de  Cuba,  and  that  they  occupy  only  the  places  remote  from  the  pres 
ent  pacified  or  tranquillized  districts  until  they  are  able  to  occupy  the 
positions  which  they  held  before  (in  the  districts  row  in  revolt). 

"Second — The  commander  of  each  zone,  or  tbe  corresponding 
official  who  may  be  otherwise  characterized  in  each  place,  shall  be 
the  commander  of  the  native  army,  and  shall  have  municipal 
powers,  but  in  a  less  degree  than  those  he  exercises  in  the  same 
position  with  any  garrison  force  of  the  army.  In  this  case  the 
command  of  the  native  armies  will  devolve  in  accordance  with 
seniority  of  services. 

"  Three — Each  community  seeking  to  do  so  and  applying  to  the 
general  staff  of  the  army  may  arm  a  section  of  volunteers  or  guerril 
las  of  thirty  men,  equipped  as  infantry  soldiers,  which  force  will  de 
fend  the  country  and  operate  under  orders  of  the  military  authorities 
of  the  locality.  Each  section  may  be  commanded  by  retired  officers, 
or  deputed  officials,  or  by  persons  of  satisfactory  qualifications 


SIDE-LIGHTS  UPON  THE  STRUGGLE.  221 

and  antecedents,  obtaining  the  pay  of  those  holding  second  com 
mand  of  infantry,  the  appointment  of  the  officials  of  these  sections  to 
be  approved  by  the  Captain-General. 

"  Fourth — Those  who  are  in  possession  of  arms  must  be  placed  in 
a  state  of  complete  defense  and  enabled  to  avoid  a  surprise. 

"  Fifth — The  military  governors  of  Havana  and  Pinar  del  Rio  will 
present  reports  to  the  Captain- General  for  the  guidance  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  Third  Army  Corps,  and  will  send  to  the 
Governor-General  proposals  for  the  nominations  of  Mayors  or  Magis 
trates  in  the  places  where  Guardis  Civil  exist,  or,  if  they  deem  it 
expedient  to  expel  those  officials,  retired  persons  or  authorized  per 
sons  who  possess  the  necessary  qualifications. 

They  Must  Surrender. 

"  Sixth — The  authorities  of  the  villages  who  will  show  themselves 
friendly  within  a  term  of  ten  days,  and  those  of  the  vicinity  of  the  same, 
and  all  those  within  its  limits  that  are  engaged  in  the  insurrection,  are 
warned  to  surrender  themselves  within  the  space  of  fifteen  days  from 
the  publication  of  this  proclamation,  otherwise  they  will  be  subject 
to  arrest ;  and  well-disposed  persons  will  be  set  to  their  civil  respon 
sibilities,  and,  to  effect  this,  it  will  be  proposed  to  the  Governor-Gen 
eral  to  nominate  a  body  which  will  see  to  carrying  this  out. 

"  Seventh — If,  in  the  case  of  insurgent  parties  who  have  robbed, 
sacked,  burned,  or  committed  other  outrages  during  the  rebellion, 
any  one  will  give  information  as  to  the  participation  that  such  per 
sons  may  have  had  in  them,  not  only  those  who  may  have  been  in 
the  rebel  ranks,  but  also  those  who  have  succeeded  them,  or  who 
have  not  remained  in  their  homes,  they  will  be  fittingly  punished  ; 
and,  moreover,  if  any  town  or  other  places  where  robberies  have 
been  effected  is  known  to  them,  they  will  be  required  to  make  iden 
tification  that  proper  responsibility  may  be  fixed. 

"  Eighth — Rebels  who  may  not  be  responsible  for  any  other  crime, 
who  within  the  term  of  fifteen  days  present  themselves  to  the  nearest 
military  authority  in  both  provinces,  and  who  will  assist  in  the  apprehen 
sion  of  any  one  guilty  of  the  foregoing  offences,  will  not  be  molested, 


222  SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE   STRUGGLE. 

but  will  be  placed  at  my  disposal.  Those  who  have  presented  them 
selves  at  any  earlier  time  will  be  pardoned  ;  those  who  may  have 
committed  any  other  crimes  or  who  obstructed  any  public  cargo 
proceeding  to  its  destination,  will  be  judged  according  to  the  antece 
dents,  and  their  case  will  be  withheld  for  final  determination.  He 
who  presents  himself  and  surrenders  arms,  and,  in  a  greater  degree, 
if  there  is  a  collective  presentation,  will  have  his  case  determined  by 
me.  All  who  present  themselves  after  the  time  mentioned  in  this 
warning  will  be  placed  at  my  disposal. 

"  Ninth — All  the  authorities  or  civil  functionaries  of  whatsoever 
kind  who  do  not  hold  a  license  for  attendance  upon  the  sick  and  who 
are  not  found  at  their  posts  after  the  end  of  eight  days  in  both  prov 
inces  will  be  named  to  the  Governor-General  as  ceasing  to  act  for 
the  local  authorities. 

"  Tenth — The  planters,  manufacturers  and  other  persons  who, 
within  the  territory  of  the  provinces  warned  shall  periodically  facili 
tate  or  even  for  a  single  time  shall  give  money  of  any  kind  soever  to 
the  insurgents,  save  and  except  in  the  case  of  their  being  obliged  to 
yield  to  superior  force — a  circumstance  which  will  have  to  be  ex 
amined  in  a  most  searching  manner — will  be  regarded  as  disloyal 
through  helping  the  rebellion. 

"  Eleventh — For  the  repair  of  roads,  railways,  telegraphs,  etc.,  the 
personal  co-operation  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  villages  will  be  re 
quired,  and  in  the  case  of  the  destruction  of  any  kind  of  property, 
the  occupants  of  convenient  habitations  will  be  held  responsible  if 
they  do  not  immediately  inform  the  nearest  authority  of  such  occur 
rences.  VALERIANO  WEYLER." 

One  of  the  incidents  of  the  struggle  was  General  Antonio  Maceo's 
arraignment  of  General  Weyler,  soon  after  the  latter  arrived  in  Cuba. 
General  Maceo  wrote  as  follows : 

"  Republic  of  Cuba,  Invading  Army, 

"  Second  Corps,  Cayajabos,  Feb.  27,  1896, 
"  General  Valeriano  Weyler,  Havana  : 

"  In  spite   of  all  that  the  press  has  published  in  regard  to  you    t 


SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE   STRUGGLE.  223 

have  never  been  willing  to  give  it  belief  and  to  base  my  judgment  of 
your  conduct  on  its  statements  ;  such  an  accumulation  of  atrocities, 
so  many  crimes  repugnant  and  dishonoring  to  any  man  of  honor,  I 
thought  it  impossible  for  a  soldier  holding  your  high  rank  to  commit 
"  The  accusations  seemed  to  me  rather  to  be  made  in  bad  faith,  or  to 
be  the  utterances  of  personal  enmity,  and  I  expected  that  you  would 
take  care  to  give  the  lie  in  due  form  to  your  detractors,  rising  to  the 
height  required  of  gentlemen,  and  saving  yourself  from  any  imputa 
tion  of  that  -kind,  by  merely  adopting  in  the  treatment  of  the 
wounded  and  of  prisoners  of  war  the  generous  course  that  has  been 
pursued  from  the  beginning  by  the  revolutionists  toward  the  Spanish 
wounded  and  prisoners. 

Appeal  Against  Spanish  Infamy. 

"  But,  unfortunately,  Spanish  dominion  must  always  be  accompanied 
by  infamy,  and  although  the  errors  and  wrongful  acts  of  the  last  war 
seemed  to  be  corrected  at  the  beginning  of  this  one,  to-day  it  has 
become  manifest  that  it  was  only  by  closing  our  eyes  to  invariable 
personal  antecedents  and  incorrigible  traditional  arbitrariness  that  we 
could  have  imagined  Spain  would  forget  forever  her  fatal  character 
istic  of  ferocity  toward  the  defenseless  and  assassination  in  security. 
For  really  it  is  difficult  to  believe  everything  we  see  in  life,  however 
absurd  it  may  seem. 

"  But  we  cannot  help  believing  evidence.  In  my  march  during  the 
period  of  this  campaign  I  see  with  alarm,  with  horror,  how  the 
wretched  reputation  you  enjoy  is  confirmed,  and  how  the  deeds  that 
disclose  your  barbarous  irritation  are  repeated.  V/hat !  must  even 
the  peaceful  inhabitants  (I  say  nothing  of  the  wounded  and  prisoners 
of  war),  must  they  be  sacrificed  to  the  rage  that  gave  the  Duke  of 
Alva  his  name  and  fame  ? 

"  Is  it  thus  that  Spain,  through  you,  returns  the  clemency  and 
kindness  with  which  we,  the  redeemers  of  this  suffering  people,  have 
acted  in  like  circumstances  ?  What  a  reproach  for^  yourself  and  for 
Spain  !  The  license  to  burn  the  huts,  assassinations  like  those  at 
Nueva  Paz  and  the  villa  El  Gato,  committed  by  Spanish  columns,  in 


Si24  SIDE-LIGHTS  UPON  THE  STRUGGLE. 

particular  those  of  Colonels  Molina  and  Vicuna,  proclaim  you  guilty 
before  all  humankind ;  your  name  will  be  forever  infamous,  here  and 
far  from  here  remembered  with  disgust  and  horror ! 

"  Out  of  humanity,  yielding  to  the  honorable  and  generous  im 
pulses  which  are  identified  with  both  the  spirit  and  the  tendency  of 
the  revolution,  I  shall  never  use  reprisals  that  would  be  unworthy 
of  the  reputation  and  the  power  of  the  liberating  army  of  Cuba.  But 
I  nevertheless  foresee  that  such  abominable  conduct  on  your  part  and 
on  that  of  your  men  will  arouse  at  no  distant  time  private  vengeances 
to  which  they  will  fall  victims,  without  my  being  able  to  prevent  it, 
even  though  I  should  punish  hundreds  of  innocent  persons. 

"  For  this  last  reason,  since  war  should  only  touch  combatants  and 
it  is  inhuman  to  make  others  suffer  from  its  consequences,  I  invite 
you  to  retrace  your  steps,  if  you  admit  your  guilt,  or  to  repress  these 
crimes  with  a  heavy  hand  if  they  were  committed  without  your  con 
sent.  At  all  events,  take  care  that  no  drop  of  blood  be  shed  outside 
the  battlefield  ;  be  merciful  to  the  many  unfortunate  peaceful  citizens. 
In  so  doing  you  will  imitate  in  honorable  emulation  our  conduct  and 
our  proceedings.  Yours, 

A.  MACEO." 

This  appeal  is  valuable  as  showing  the  grievances  of  the  insurgents, 
as  well  as  their  commander's  bold  and  telling  way  of  stating  them. 

An  interview  with  General  Weyler  by  a  lady  correspondent  in 
Cuba  will  be  of  interest.  She  writes  under  date  of  March  1 3th  : 

His  Excellency,  Captain-General  Weyler,  graciously  gave  me  an 
audience  to-day.  He  received  me  with  most  charming  courtesy; 
escorted  me  through  his  apartments  and  presented  me  with  a  bunch 
of  roses  from  his  own  table.  Before  I  left  he  had  honored  me  with 
an  invitation  to  dine  with  him  at  the  Palace. 

"  Your  Excellency,"  I  said  to  him  through  my  interpreter,  "  the 
American  women  have  a  very  bad  opinion  of  you.  I  am  very  much 
afraid  of  you  myself,  but  I  have  come  to  ask  the  honor  of  an  inter 
view  with  you,  in  order  that  I  may  write  something  which  will  reas 
sure  the  women  of  America  that  you  are  not  treating  women  and 
children  unmercifully." 


SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON  THE   STRUGGLE.  225 

"  I  do  not  give  interviews,"  he  said.  "  I  am  willing,  however,  to 
answer  any  question  you  wish  to  ask." 

"  In  the  United  States,"  I  said,  "  an  impression  prevails  that  your 
edict  shutting  out  newspaper  correspondents  from  the  field  is  only 
to  conceal  cruelties  perpetrated  upon  the  insurgent  prisoners.  Will 
your  Excellency  tell  me  the  real  cause  ?  " 

"  I  have,"  replied  the  General,  "  shut  out  the  Spanish  and  Cuban 
papers  from  the  field,  as  well  as  the  American.  In  the  last  war  the 
correspondents  created  much  jealousy  by  what  they  wrote.  They 
praised  one  and  rebuked  the  other.  They  wrote  what  their  prisoners 
dictated  instead  of  facts.  They  even  created  ill-feeling  between  the 
Spanish  officers.  They  are  a  nuisance." 

"Then  I  can  deny  the  stories  that  have  been  published  as  to  your1 
being  cruel  ?  " 

The  General  shrugged  his  heavy  shoulders  as  he  said  carelessly : 
"I  have  no  time  to  pay  attention  to  stories.  Some  of  them  are  true, 
and  some  are  not.  If  you  will  particularize  I  will  give  direct 
answers,  but  these  things  are  not  important/' 

"  Does  not  your  Excellency  think  that  prisoners  of  war  should  be 
treated  with  consideration  and  mercy  ?  " 

The  General's  eyes  glinted  dangerously.  "  The  Spanish  columns 
attend  to  their  prisoners  just  as  well  as  any  other  country  in  time  of 
war,"  he  replied.  "  War  is  war.  You  cannot  make  it  otherwise,  try 
as  you  will." 

"  Will  not  your  Excellency  allow  me  to  go  to  the  scene  of  battle 
under  an  escort  of  soldiers,  if  necessary,  that  I  may  write  of  the 
situation  as  it  really  is,  and  correct  the  impression  that  prevails  in 
America  that  inhuman  treatment  is  being  accorded  the  insurgent 
prisoners  ?  " 

"  Impossible,"  answered  the  General.     "  It  would  not  be  safe." 

"  I  am  willing  to  take  all  the  danger,  if  your  Excellency  will  allow 
me  to  go,"  I  exclaimed. 

General  Weyler  laughed.     "  There  would  be  no  danger  from  the 
rebels,"  he  said,  "  but  from  the  Spanish  soldiers.     They  are  of  a  very 
affectionate  disposition  and  would  all  fall  in  love  with  you." 
15 


226  SIDE-LIGHTS  UPON  THE  STRUGGLE. 

"  I  will  keep  a  great  distance  from  the  fighting  if  you  will  allow 
me  to  go." 

The  General's  lips  closed  tightly,  and  he  said  :  "  Impossible !  Im 
possible !  " 

"  What  would  happen,"  I  asked,  "  if  I  should  be  discovered  cross 
ing  the  lines  without  permission  ?  " 

"  You  would  be  treated  just  the  same  as  a  man." 

"  Would  I  be  sent  to  Castle  Morro  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  he  replied,  nodding  his  head  vigorously.  That  settled  it. 
I  decided  not  to  go. 

"  W7hy,"  I  asked  him,  "  is  the  rule  '  incommunicado  '  placed  upon 
prisoners  ?  Is  it  not  cruel  to  prevent  a  man  from  seeing  his  wife  and 
children  ?  " 

"  The  rule  '  incommunicado/  "  said  the  General,  "  is  a  military 
law.  Prisoners  are  allowed  to  see  their  relatives  as  a  favor,  but  we 
exercise  discretion  in  these  cases." 

"  There  are  stories  that  prisoners  are  shot  in  Morro  Castle  at  day 
break  each  morning,  and  that  the  shots  can  be  plainly  heard  across 
the  bay.  Is  this  true  ?  " 

The  General's  eyes  looked  unpleasant  again.  "  It  is  false !  "  he 
said,  shortly.  "  The  prisoners  go  through  a  regular  court-martial, 
and  no  one  could  be  shot  at  Morro  without  my  orders,  and  I  have  not 
given  orders  to  shoot  any  one  since  I  have  been  here." 

"  Do  you  not  think  it  very  cruel  that  innocent  women  and  children 
should  be  made  to  suffer  in  time  of  war  ?  " 

"  No  innocent  women  and  children  do  suffer.  It  is  only  those  who 
leave  their  homes  and  take  part  in  battles  who  are  injured.  It  is  only 
the  rebels  who  destroy  peaceful  homes." 

"  It  is  reported,"  I  said,  "  that  thirty  women  are  fighting  under 
Maceo.  Is  this  true  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  General.  "  We  tbok  one  woman  yesterday 
She  was  dressed  in  man's  clothes  and  was  wielding  a  machete.  She 
is  now  in  Morro  Castle.  These  women  are  fiercer  than  the  mer 
Many  of  them  are  mulattoes.  This  particular  woman  was  whit*-  " 

"  What  will  be  her  fate  ?" 


SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE   STRUGGLE.  22? 

"She  will  go  through  the  regular  form  of  trial." 

"  Will  no  mercy  be  shown  her  ?  " 

"  Mercy  is  always  shown  to  a  woman.  While  the  law  is  the  same 
for  both  sexes  there  is  a  clause  which  admits  of  mercy  to  a  woman." 

"  There  are  several  Cuban  women  insurgents  in  Morro  and  the 
Cabanas.  Would  your  Excellency,"  I  asked,  "  allow  me  to  visit 
them  ?  " 

A  Rigid  Military  Law. 

"  No/'  he  said.  "  There  is  a  law  that  no  foreigner  shall  enter  oui 
fortresses.  It  is  a  military  law.  We  can  make  no  exceptions.  You 
understand  that  I  do  not  wish  to  be  discourteous,  senorita." 

'*  Some  of  these  women,"  I  continued,  "  are  said  to  be  imprisoned 
for  merely  having  Cuban  flags  in  their  homes.  Is  this  possible  ?  " 

"  Treason,"  exclaimed  the  General,  "  is  always  a  crime,  punishable 
by  imprisonment." 

"  There  is  a  newspaper  correspondent  at  present  in  Morro.  What 
was  his  crime  ?  " 

The  General  shrugged  his  shoulders  again.  "I  know  nothing 
about  him,"  he  said.  "  I  think  he  has  been  freed." 

"  Do  you  not  think  that  the  life  of  a  newspaper  correspondent  in 
Havana  is  at  present  a  most  unhappy  one  ?  " 

"  I  think  it  must  be,  for  they  make  me  unhappy.  If  they  were  all 
like  you  it  would  be  a  pleasure." 

"  Is  it  true  that  thumbscrews  are  used  to  extort  confessions  from 
prisoners  ?  " 

"  Not  by  the  Spaniards.  Rebels  use  all  these  things,  similar  to 
those  that  were  used  in  the  Inquisition  tortures." 

"  What  does  your  Excellency  think  of  the  Cubans  as  a  race  ?  Do 
you  not  think  them  progressive  and  brave  ?  " 

"  With  the  progress  of  all  nations  the  Cubans  have  progressed," 
he  replied.  "  There  are  many  Cubans  in  sympathy  with  Spain,  but 
this  insurrection  is  a  blot  upon  the  Cuban  race  which  nothing  can 
ever  erase.  It  is  a  stain  made  with  the  blood  of  the  slain  and  the 
tears  of  the  women.  It  injures  the  Cubans  themselves  more  than 
any  other." 


228  SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE  STRUGGLE. 

In  the  latter  part  of  March  Cuban  circles  in  this  country  were 
elated  over  the  successful  landing  in  Cuba  of  the  expedition  sent  out 
by  the  steamship  "  Bermuda."  After  her  departure  there  was  great 
anxiety  among  the  Cuban  sympathizers,  and  news  of  her  safe  land 
ing  afforded  corresponding  satisfaction. 

Rafael  Portuondo,  Secretary  of  State  of  the  insurgent  Republic, 
said :  "  The  successful  landing  of  General  Garcia  and  the  '  Bermuda's* 
cargo  of  arms  and  ammunition  is  of  greater  moment  to  us  than  the 
outside  world  can  imagine.  We  have  hoped  so  long  in  vain  for  the 
administration  of  the  United  States  to  recognize  our  belligerency, 
that  we  have  almost  abandoned  the  idea  of  ever  benefiting  by  the 
improved  moral  and  international  standing  which  such  an  act  would 
give  us  in  the  eyes  of  other  nations.  We  see  now  that  we  can  expect 
but  little  aid  from  any  one  else ;  that  we  must  carve  our  destiny  with 
the  Cuban  sword — the  machete. 

"  Diplomacy  so  far  has  availed  us  nothing.  We  have  got  to  fight 
our  way  to  freedom,  and  General  Garcia  is  a  fighter.  He  has  faced 
death  many  times.  He  is  feared  by  his  enemies  and  loved  by  his 
friends.  He  will  be  a  power  in  Cuba,  and  his  safe  arrival  on  the 
Island  will  be  an  important  step  toward  securing  her  freedom.  He 
will  take  immediate  command  of  the  department  of  the  Oriente, 
which  includes  the  provinces  of  Camaguey  and  Santiago  de  Cuba." 

After  Garcia's  escape  from  Madrid  in  the  fall  of  1895,  and  his  sub 
sequent  arrival  in  New  York,  every  effort  was  made  to  enable  him  to 
reach  Cuba  with  a  respectable  expedition.  The  failure  of  those 
efforts  in  the  sinking  of  the  "  Hawkins  "  and  the  detention  of  the 
"  Bermuda  "  are  well  known.  Secretary  Olney's  order  to  release  the 
"  Bermuda  "  and  arms  seized  on  the  "  Stranahan  "  encouraged  the 
Cuban  officials  in  this  country  to  make  another  attempt  to  leave  the 
port,  which  was  done  in  broad  daylight. 

On  Sunday  morning,  March  I5th,  the  "  Bermuda"  steamed  out  of 
New  York  harbor.  She  carried  four  rapid-fire  Hotchkiss  cannon, 
one  twenty-pounder  and  one  ten-pounder.  These  were  by  far  the 
largest  guns  yet  used  by  the  insurgents. 

Early  in  April  was  the  time  for  holding  elections  in  Cuba,  and  it 


SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE  STRUGGLE.  229 

was  claimed  that  Spain  would  receive  a  strong  support.  Despite  the 
threats  of  the  captain-general,  the  Autonomist  party  remained  firm, 
and  refused  to  take  any  active  share  in  the  elections.  They  intended, 
indeed,  to  vote  for  two  Senators,  one  for  the  University  and  the  other 
for  Los  Amigos  del  Pais,  but  here  their  efforts  were  to  cease. 

It  was  a  serious  predicament  for  General  Weyler.  He  pledged  his 
reputation  on  his  ability  to  drive  voters  to  the  polls,  hoping  by  that 
act  to  prove  to  the  government  in  Madrid  that  affairs  were  not  in  such 
a  really  desperate  condition.  Cuba  had  never  been  officially  declared 
to  be  in  a  state  of  war.  It  was  admitted  that  serious  disturbances 
existed;  but,  then,  are  not  misfortunes  liable  to  occur  in  the  best 
regulated  households  ?  Have  not  the  United  States  had  riots  in 
Pittsburg  and  Chicago,  and  had  not  England  to  contend  against  the 
Irish  Land  League? 

And  yet  one  is  tempted  to  ask  why  people  who  arrived  on  board 
the  steamers  were  subjected  to  a  rigorous  inquisition.  Every  Wed 
nesday  and  Saturday,  when  the  Tampa  boat  reached  Havana,  the 
passengers  were  compelled  to  go  to  the  Hotel  Mascotte,  near  the 
quay,  and  were  there  thoroughly  searched. 

Outside  of  the  city,  too,  the  country  had  not  the  appearance  which 
we  are  accustomed  to  see  in  times  of  ordinary  tranquillity.  A  trip 
from  Havana  to  Batabano,  on  the  south  coast,  was  exactly  like  jour 
neying  through  a  desert.  At  intervals  of  a  couple  of  miles  small 
forts  are  constructed  along  the  line,  each  with  its  garrison  of  twenty 
or  thirty  soldiers,  but,  with  these  exceptions,  no  trace  of  human  ex 
istence  was  to  be  seen.  A  lonely  and  abandoned  country  stretched 
away  on  each  side. 

Here  and  there  a  small  green  patch  of  sugar  cane  had  escaped  the 
general  conflagration,  but  for  the  most  part  the  eye  rested  only  upon 
blackened  stalks,  over  which  the  tall,  slender  palm  trees  waved  like 
sorrowing  mourners.  Station  buildings  were  heaps  of  crumbling 
ruins,  where,  amid  the  general  wreck,  temporary  fortifications  of  stone 
and  metal  rails  had  been  hastily  put  together,  though  for  what  pur 
pose  it  was  hard  to  imagine. 

Every  little  village  was  occupied  by  troops,  sentries  were  stationed 


230  SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE  STRUGGLE. 

upon  every  church,  whose  walls  had  been  pierced  for  muskets,  and 
round  which  deep  trenches  had  been  dug  as  an  additional  means  of 
defence.  These  sacred  edifices  represented  the  citadel  of  the  position, 
and,  filled  as  they  were  with  men  who  had  signalized  themselves  by 
robbery  and  crime,  one  was  forcibly  reminded  of  the  words  which 
say :  "  You  have  made  my  house  a  den  of  thieves." 

Batabano  itself  was  half  destroyed.  In  the  recent  attack  the  town 
hall  and  all  the  rest  of  the  public  buildings  were  burned,  and  yet  there 
were  ample  accommodations  for  the  few  families  who  lingered  on. 

The  port,  called  Surgidero,  is  about  three  miles  distant.  It  is  an 
important  place,  as  it  is  the  point  of  embarkation  for  Cienfuegos  and 
Santiago  de  Cuba.  So  far  it  had  escaped  the  insurgents,  but  there 
was  a  band  lurking  in  the  jungle  close  at  hand  who  made  constant 
demonstrations  during  the  night,  and  kept  the  military  authorities 
busy. 

Embankments  and  Breastworks. 

The  precautions  which  were  adopted  for  defence  are  interesting. 
A  narrow,  shallow  trench  was  excavated  for  nearly  a  mile  and  a  half 
outside  the  little  seaport  to  protect  it  on  the  land  side.  Behind  this 
trench  the  earth  was  thrown  up  into  a  low  embankment,  strengthened 
with  a  wattle  breastwork,  and  guarded  along  the  entire  line  by  no 
fewer  than  twelve  forts.  A  gunboat  was  close  in  shore,  and  as  a 
guide  to  direct  her  fire,  lanterns  on  high  posts  were  set  close  together 
a  few  paces  beyond  the  trench.  She  had  a  good  deal  of  practice,  for 
one  of  the  inhabitants  said  that  he  counted  thirty-seven  shells  which 
she  discharged  one  night.  Like  Mr.  Winkle's  shot,  however,  they 
proved  to  be  merely  homeless  wanderers,  finding,  contrary  to  th? 
proverb,  no  billet  anywhere. 

At  the  railway  station,  the  platform  was  crowded  with  people. 
They  were  emigrants,  flying  with  their  families  and  household  goods 
from  the  terror  which  reigned  throughout  the  land.  But  it  was  not 
a  fear  of  the  insurgents  which  compelled  them  to  leave  their  homes. 
The  Spanish  army  was  the  cause.  The  alcalde  of  Jovellanos,  in  Ma 
tanzas  province,  said  that  there  was  no  safety  for  any  one  outside  o) 
the  large  cities. 


SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE   STRUGGLE.  231 

This  man  was  a  Spaniard  and  a  loyal  subject  He  officiated  as 
Mayor  of  Jovellanos  for  two  years,  and  was  prosperous  and  respected. 
After  soldiers  were  quartered  in  the  town,  he  said,  life  had  become 
unbearable.  They  plundered  his  store,  notwithstanding  his  position 
as  Chief  Magistrate,  and  robbed  the  inhabitants  at  will.  A  Spanish 
guerrilla  force,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Salvador  Paula,  saw 
ten  laborers  working  in  a  field  in  the  outskirts  of  Jovellanos.  When 
challenged  these  men  replied  :  "  Viva  Espafia  !  "  Yet  they  were  im 
mediately  fired  upon,  though  fortunately  without  any  evil  result  to 
them.  They  were  wise  enough  to  fling  themselves  upon  the  ground, 
while  an  unfortunate  Chinaman,  who  was  feeding  his  horse  close  by, 
received  a  bullet  in  the  leg.  This  poor  creature  limped  up  and 
showed  the  wound  to  Lieutenant  Paula,  who  thereupon  exclaimed  : 
"  O,  you  complain,  do  you?  I  will  soon  prevent  your  telling  tales !" 
drew  his  machete  and  with  one  stroke  cut  off  the  Chinaman's  head. 
This  episode  undoubtedly  saved  the  workmen's  lives. 

Still  Another  Atrocity. 

The  guerrilleros,  having  gratified  their  taste  for  blood,  departed,  yet 
though  the  case,  the  Alcalde  said,  was  reported  to  the  commandant, 
General  Prat,  Paula  and  his  gang  were  left  unpunished. 

Another  atrocity  was  that  of  Colonel  Vicuna,  who,  when  marching 
with  his  column  to  the  town,  met  three  unarmed  men  upon  the  road. 
They  were  instantly  arrested,  and  though  there  were  no  grounds  for 
supposing  them  to  be  insurgents,  Colonel  Vicuna  ordered  them  to  be 
shot,  a  command  which  was  carried  out  on  the  spot.  Three  days 
afterward  the  Alcalde  read  in  the  official  reports  in  the  newspapers 
that  this  very  column  had  had  an  engagement  with  the  insurgents 
near  Jovellanos,  and  had  killed  three.  The  battle  referred  to  was 
this  cruel  execution  of  inoffensive  civilians. 

Of  a  truth  these  official  reports  were  merely  useful  as  a  record  of 
what  did  not  occur.  No  reliance  can  be  placed  in  a  single  state 
ment,  unless  it  be  the  simple  fact  that  something  took  place  in  a  cer 
tain  locality,  while  the  circumstantial  story  and  the  result  were 
complete  fabrications.  An  account  was  given  of  an  encounter  near 


232  SIDE-LIGHTS   UPON   THE   STRUGGLE. 

Cardenas,  where  the  Spaniards  had  one  dead  and  four  wounded.  It 
was  found  subsequently  that  their  losses  amounted  to  sixty-two,  of 
which  no  fewer  than  twenty-five  had  been  killed. 

In  like  manner  the  true  account  of  the  assault  on  Santa  Clara  is 
very  different  from  that  supplied  from  the  Palace  for  publication.  In 
a  letter  from  an  eye-witness  of  the  whole  affair,  we  find  that  the 
Cubans  met  with  scarcely  any  opposition,  and  that  General  Bazan,  so 
far  from  having  ridden  with  his  staff  through  the  rain  of  bullets, 
sought  refuge  in  the  theatre  until  the  enemy  had  retired.  The 
insurgents  patrolled  the  town  all  night  long,  and  procured  without 
difficulty  the  supplies  which  they  required. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 
The  United  States  to  the  Rescue. 

ON  the  loth  of  April,  1896,  our  State  Department  at  Washing 
ton  sent  to  Madrid  an  important  official  despatch  hearing  on 
Cuban  affairs.     It  was  signed  by  Secretary  Olney,  and  ad 
dressed  to  Minister  Taylor.     In  it  was  laid  down  the  attitude  of  the 
Administration  on  the  Cuban  question.     The  despatch  was  a  lengthy 
one.     Its  four  principal  points  were : 

First.  The  President  proposed  that  Spain  accept  mediation  on  the 
\    part  of  the  United  States,  looking  to  a  settlement  of  existing  differ- 
\  ences  between  the  Spanish  Government  and  the  Cubans. 

Second.  It  referred  to  the  correspondence  between  the  State  De 
partment  and  the  Madrid  authorities  in  1870,  in  which  Spain  promised 
to  inaugurate  governmental  reforms  in  Cuba,  which  promises,  it  was 
^    said,  have  not  been  fulfilled. 

Third.  That  the  present  rebellion   in  Cuba  is  more   serious  and 
*  widespread  than  any  which  have  arisen  in  recent  years,  and  that  the 
insurgents  controlled  practically  all  of  Cuba  except  Havana  and  the 
near  neighborhood. 

Fourth.  It  assured  Spain  of  the  kindliest  motives  on  the  part  of 
the  United  States  in  seeking  to  bring  about  a  pacific  condition  of 
affairs  in  Cuba,  and  urged  that  the  good  offices  of  this  country  be 
accepted  in  the  spirit  proffered. 

After  the  passage  in  the  House  of  the  Cuban  resolutions  the  Presi 
dent  and  Secretary  Olney  were  frequently  in  consultation  in  relation 
to  the  general  affairs  in  Cuba  and  the  wisest  course  for  the  United 
States  to  pursue  in  the  matter.  Few,  if  any,  of  the  many  friends  of 
Cuba  in  Congress  expected  that  the  President  would  take  steps  in 
harmony  with  the  provisions  of  the  resolutions.  The  President 
decided  that  the  question  of  recognizing  a  state  of  belligerency  in 

233 


234  UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE. 

the  Island  was  not  seriously  to  be  considered.  In  reaching  this 
decision  he  followed  the  advice  of  Secretary  Olney,  which  was  based 
on  the  precedent  established  by  President  Grant  in  his  first  adminis 
tration,  upon  the  earnest  recommendations  of  Secretary  Fish. 

Our  Government  Offers  to  Mediate. 

It  having  been  determined  not  to  recognize  belligerency  in  the 
Island,  the  point  to  be  decided  was  what,  if  any,  steps  should  be 
taken  in  the  matter.  The  President  and  the  Secretary  of  State 
agreed  that  some  measures  were  necessary.  As  a  result  of  several 
important  conferences,  the  President  finally  concluded  that  mediation 
on  the  part  of  the  United  States  should  be  suggested  to  Spain. 

As  far  as  known  the  President  did  not  discuss  the  proposed  course 
with  any  other  member  of  the  Cabinet  than  Mr.  Olney.  In  interna 
tional  affairs  it  was  the  exception  when  he  asked  for  the  views  of  any 
other  Cabinet  Minister.  In  the  case  of  Cuba  he  did  not  depart  from 
his  rule,  but  drew  up  not  only  the  outline  of  Mr.  Olney's  note  to 
Minister  Taylor,  but  suggested  many  of  the  paragraphs,  and  some  of 
the  sentences. 

The  President  viewed  the  condition  of  affairs  in  Cuba  as  deserving 
of  serious  consideration.  He  recognized  that  conditions  existed 
which  were  most  unfortunate,  and  which  were  injurious  not  only  to 
Spain,  but  to  the  vast  commerce  between  the  United  States  and 
Cuba.  He  realized,  however,  that  Spain  and  this  country  are  on 
terms  of  amity,  and  thought  that  vigorous  proceedings  on  the  part  of 
the  United  States  would  result  in  the  object  aimed  at  being  lost 
This  might  mean  a  rupture  of  the  friendly  relations  between  Spain 
and  the  United  States.  The  President  was  opposed  to  the  adoption 
of  any  such  course. 

He  looked  upon  the  recognizing  of  a  state  of  belligerency  in  Cuba 
as  unwise  and  unjustifiable  under  the  circumstances,  and  as  certain  to 
irritate  the  Spanish  people.  For  the  present,  at  least,  he  was  of  the 
opinion  that  the  best  course  was  to  propose  the  good  offices  of  this 
Government,  looking  to  a  settlement  of  the  serious  differences 
between  Spain  and  the  Cuban  insurgents. 


UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE.  235 

Secretary  Olncy's  letter  to  Minister  Taylor  was  written  in  the 
most  careful,  cautious  manner.  In  referring  to  the  proposition  that 
Spain  accept  mediation  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  he  said  that 
the  attitude  of  this  country  in  the  matter  is  a  friendly  one,  and  that 
the  United  States  could  have  no  other  object,  as  Spain  must  know, 
than  to  bring  about  a  more  satisfactory  condition  of  affairs  in  Cuba. 
He  complimented  Spain  to  the  extent  of  intimating  that  she  is  too 
great  a  Power  to  fear  to  do  what  is  right,  and  that  if  the  claims  of  the 
Cuban  insurgents  as  to  Spanish  wrongs  were  based  on  fact,  it  was 
the  duty  of  the  Madrid  Government  to  inaugurate  a  more  just,  leni 
ent  and  humane  policy  toward  Cuba. 

Trying  to  Restore  Order. 

Such  a  course,  it  was  pointed  out,  would  tend  to  bring  about  quiet 
and  restore  order  in  the  Island,  and  modify  the  growing  impression 
throughout  the  world  that  many  of  the  alleged  evils  in  Cuba  are  the 
result  of  harsh  treatment  or  the  maladministration  of  the  Colonial 
Government.  As  one  reason  for  suggesting  mediation  in  the  case, 
Minister  Taylor  was  informed  that  many  of  the  citizens  in  this  coun 
try  interested  in  estates  in  Cuba,  or  in  the  commerce  with  the  Island, 
were  suffering  on  account  of  the  rebellion.  This  fact  and  others, 
which  the  Secretary  set  forth,  were,  in  his  opinion,  a  sufficient  justifi 
cation  for  proposing  to  Spain  that  she  accept  the  good  offices  of  the 
United  States  looking  to  a  settlement  of  differences  between  the 
mother  country  and  her  Island  Colony. 

The  Secretary  of  State  referred  to  the  correspondence  between  the 
State  Department  and  the  Madrid  Government  in  the  first  adminis 
tration  of  President  Grant,  when  Secretary  Fish,  by  direction  of  the 
President,  proposed  that  the  United  States  should  act  as  mediator  be 
tween  Spain  and  the  insurgents.  Spain  then  politely  declined  the 
good  offices  of  this  country,  but  intimated  that  the  time  might  come 
when  they  would  be  acceptable  to  her.  She  promised,  however,  that 
a  number  of  important  governmental  reforms  should  be  instituted  in 
Cuba,  among  others  that  the  taxes  in  the  Island  should  be  equitably 
levied,  that  no  unjust  discrimination  should  be  made  against  native 


236  UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE. 

Cubans  in  the  matter  of  holding  offices,  that  the  security  of  persons 
and  property  should  be  maintained,  that  the  judiciary  should  be 
separated  from  the  military  authorities,  and  that  greater  freedom  of 
speech,  press  and  religion  would  be  inaugurated.  In  those  days 
slavery  existed  in  Cuba,  and  partly  at  the  instance  of  the  United 
States,  the  Spanish  Government  passed  a  law  of  emancipation. 

Spain's  Promises  Broken. 

A  number  of  other  important  reforms  have  not  been  brought 
about,  however,  and  the  Secretary  pointed  out  that  representatives  of 
the  insurgents  in  Washington  contended  that  there  was  no  probability 
of  changes  in  law  and  custom  being  made.  In  a  communication 
to  the  State  Department,  T.  Estrada  Palma,  representing  the  in 
surgent  party,  stated  that  the  causes  of  the  revolution  in  the 
Island  were  substantially  the  same  as  those  of  the  former  revolution, 
lasting  from  1868  to  1878,  and  terminating  only  on  the  representa 
tion  of  the  Spanish  Government  that  Cuba  would  be  granted  such 
reforms  as  would  remove  the  ground  of  complaint  on  the  part  of  the 
Cuban  people. 

Unfortunately,  Mr.  Palma  said,  the  hopes  thus  held  out  have  never 
been  realized.  The  representation  which  was  to  be  given  Cubans 
proved  to  be  absolutely  without  character.  Taxes  were  levied  anew 
on  everything  conceivable ;  the  offices  in  the  Island  increased,  but 
the  officers  were  all  Spaniards  ;  the  native  Cubans  had  been  left  with 
no  public  duties  whatsoever  to  perform  except  the  payment  of  taxes 
to  the  Government,  without  privilege  even  to  move  from  place  to 
place  in  the  Island,  except  on  the  permission  of  governmental 
authority. 

Mr.  Palma  also  complained  that  Spain  had  framed  laws  so  that  the 
natives  had  substantially  been  deprived  of  the  right  of  suffrage. 
There  was  appropriated  only  $746,000  for  internal  improvements  out 
of  the  $26,000,000  collected  by  taxes.  Mr.  Olney  pointed  out  that 
if  even  part  of  the  injustice  and  harshness  alleged  by  the  insurgents 
existed  in  Cuba,  important  reforms  would  appear  to  be  demanded 
under  the  circumstances. 


UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE.  237 

Secretary  Olney  informed  Minister  Taylor  that  from  advices  re 
ceived  from  Cuba  it  was  made  clear  that  the  revolution  in  the  Island 
was  more  widespread  than  the  ten  years'  revolution,  and  that  the 
insurgents  were  reported  to  be  masters  of  the  situation,  except  in  and 
near  Havana.  These  conditions,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Secretary, 
went  to  show  the  extent  of  the  insurrectionary  movement,  and  the 
large  number  of  persons  engaged  in  it,  and  the  effect  was  a  serious 
blow  to  business  throughout  the  Island,  and  operated  necessarily 
greatly  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  commerce  of  the  United  States. 

Much  more  was  said  in  this  connection  in  the  despatch  to  Minister 
Taylor,  but  the  drift  of  the  statement  was  that  the  revolution  had 
made  greater  headway  than  any  preceding  revolution  in  Cuba,  and 
that  the  conditions  were  cause  for  grave  concern  on  the  part  of  the 
United  States.  Mr.  Olney  intimated  that  if  the  insurgents  had  not 
been  successful  in  overcoming  the  Spanish  forces  and  getting  charge 
of  the  Island,  it  was  equally  true  that  Spain  had  not  put  down  the 
rebellion. 

A  Friendly  Proposition. 

The  Secretary  concluded  his  lengthy  despatch  by  directing  Minis 
ter  Taylor  to  assure  Spain  of  the  friendliness  of  this  country  in  pro 
posing  mediation.  His  argument  throughout  was  a  strong  one. 
Minister  Taylor  was  instructed  to  lay  the  President's  proposition 
before  the  Spanish  Foreign  Secretary  at  an  early  date,  and  to  com 
municate  the  reply  of  the  Madrid  Government  promptly  upon  re 
ceiving  it. 

What  the  feeling  was  at  Madrid  is  clearly  shown  by  the  statement 
of  a  journalist,  under  date  of  April  16  : 

"  As  I  am  about  to  leave  Spain  a  resume  of  the  present  state  of 
affairs  here  may  be  appropriate. 

"  Quiet  reigns.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  whole  trouble  will  be 
amicably  arranged.  It  is  only  necessary  for  Mr.  Cleveland  to  make 
friendly  overtures  in  order  to  get  a  friendly  reply  in  regard  to  the 
reforms  to  be  granted  to  Cuba.  The  present  government  has  said  as 
much.  Laws  have  already  been  passed,  and  are  only  awaiting  the 
cessation  of  hostilities  to  be  enforced. 


238  UNITED   STATES  TO   THE   RESCUE. 

"  Spain  will  strain  every  nerve  to  suppress  the  insurrection,  although 
the  government  does  not  expect  to  succeed  in  this  before  the  rainy 
season  sets  in.  On  the  contrary,  preparations  are  now  under  way  to 
send  six  thousand  more  soldiers  to  Cuba  at  the  end  of  the  summer. 
That  will  make  a  total  of  two  hundred  thousand  men  sent  to  the  Island 
since  the  war  began. 

"The  jingo  threats  of  American  interference  have  really  strength 
ened  the  present  government.  Every  Spaniard,  whether  conserva 
tive,  liberal  or  republican,  would  stand  by  the  red  and  yellow  flag, 
and  afterward  would  fight  it  out  among  themselves.  The  conserva 
tives,  who  outnumber  the  liberals  by  three  to  one,  are  doing  every 
thing  in  their  power,  without  compromising  the  honor  of  the  nation, 
to  avert  war  with  the  United  States. 

"  The  liberals  are  the  jingoes  of  the  Peninsula  and  they  seem  to 
think  that  Spain  has  been  insulted  quite  enough  already.  The 
republicans  are  very  much  in  the  minority  just  now  and  are  confined 
almost  entirely  to  the  northern  provinces.  They  are  against  anything 
that  is  done  by  the  government,  and  are  consequently  opposed  to  the 
pacific  methods  of  Premier  Canovas  and  his  colleagues.  Even  they 
would  stand  by  the  Crown  in  case  of  war. 

Our  Country  Cordially  Hated. 

"  While  there  is  a  deep-seated  bitterness  to  the  United  States  all 
over  the  country,  there  is  very  little  open  exhibition  of  it.  If  the 
match  were  applied  this  feeling  would  explode  with  such  violence  that 
the  lives  of  Americans  would  not  be  safe  anywhere  from  Cadiz  to 
San  Sebastian.  The  recognition  of  the  Cuban  insurgents  as  belli 
gerents  would  be  such  a  match.  The  thousands  of  students  in 
Madrid  and  Barcelona  ,would  start  the  trouble,  and  the  infection 
would  soon  spread.  It  should  be  remembered  that  there  are  17,000 
of  these  students  in  Madrid  alone,  and  Madrid  is  only  one  of  twelve 
university  cities. 

"  If  war  came  I  doubt  if  Spain  would  attempt  to  hold  Cuba  for 
any  length  of  time.  She  would  withdraw  her  troops  and  use  them 
to  defend  the  Peninsula  from  invasion.  Before  that  happened  ihe 


UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE.  239 

effort  would  probably  be  made  to  attack  Florida.  Thirty  merchant 
steamships,  some  of  which  are  now  being  converted  into  cruisers, 
would  be  employed  purely  as  privateers  to  harass  American  com 
merce.  It  is  the  boast  of  the  Spaniards  that  they  drove  Napoleon 
back  across  the  Pyrenees  by  guerrilla  warfare,  and  they  believe  they 
could  drive  the  Stars  and  Stripes  from  the  seas  by  corsair  methods. 
"  The  regular  Spanish  navy  would  be  kept  near  Cadiz  and  Barce 
lona,  and  it  would  not  be  an  easy  matter  to  capture  Cadiz,  which  is 
quite  as  well  fortified  as  New  York.  New  and  big  guns  have  re 
cently  been  mounted  on  the  shore  batteries.  Torpedoes  and  tor 
pedo  boats  are  there  without  number.  Barcelona  also  is  well  pro 
tected,  and  for  that  matter  the  defences  of  all  the  ports  are  being 
strengthened. 

Scarcity  of  Food. 

"  Spain  is  so  barren  in  food  products  that  an  invading  army  would 
have  to  depend  entirely  on  its  base  for  supplies.  It  could  not  live  off 
the  country.  On  the  other  hand,  Spanish  soldiers  subsist  on  next  to 
nothing.  The  private  soldiers  in  the  Spanish  army  honestly  believe 
that  in  case  of  war  Spain  would  win.  They  think  this  because  the 
regular  army  of  the  United  States  numbers  less  than  half  the  force 
now  stationed  in  Madrid. 

"  Even  though  the  Cuban  rebellion  is  costing  Spain  one  million 
pesetas  daily,  still  Spanish  money  is  but  little  more  depreciated  than 
it  was  three  years  ago,  in  time  of  peace." 

The  friendly  efforts  in  the  direction  of  mediation  by  the  United 
States  in  Cuban  affairs  soon  bore  fruit.  The  State  Department  had 
information,  it  was  reported,  through  Minister  Taylor,  at  Madrid, 
that  the  Spanish  authorities  were  making  active  preparations  to  put 
into  effect  the  long-promised  reforms  in  Cuba,  which  practically  con 
templated  home  rule  for  the  Island. 

The  exact  date  when  these  reforms  would  be  put  into  operation 
was  not  known.  There  was  some  criticism  even  in  Spanish  circles 
that  these  reforms  were  not  inaugurated  before  the  elections  in  Cuba. 
The  war  on  the  Island  and  the  desire  to  crush  it  was  the  excuse 


240  UNITED   STATES   TO   THE    RESCUE. 

offered  for  not  sooner  carrying  out  the  laws  enacted  on  March   15, 
1895,  by  the  Cortes. 

Not  only  was  it  proposed  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  these  laws, 
but  the  Spanish  Ministry  contemplated  further  reforms,  which  would 
be  submitted  to  the  Cortes  for  its  approval.  There  were  reasons  for 
believing  that  the  United  States  had  taken  an  important  part  toward 
inducing  Spain  to  adopt  a  more  conciliatory  course  in  regard  to 
Cuba,  and  that  in  the  role  of  meditator  strong  efforts  were  made  by 
this  country,  especially  after  the  arrival  of  the  newly  appointed 
consul,  General  Fitzhugh  Lee,  in  Havana,  to  induce  the  Ojban  insur 
gents  to  accept  in  a  friendly  spirit  the  contemplated  changes  in  the 
administration  of  affairs  in  Cuba  by  the  Spanish  Government. 

The  Proposed  Reforms. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  laws  enacted  by  the  Cortes  provid 
ing  for  the  reforms.  The  internal  affairs  of  the  Island  were  to  be 
under  the  control  of  a  council  of  administration,  to  comprise  thirty 
members,  fifteen  to  be  appointed  by  royal  decree  and  fifteen  to  be 
elected  according  to  the  census  under  new  methods  of  suffrage.  The 
council,  however,  would  be  subordinate  to  the  Governor-General. 
The  conditions  prescribed  for  appointment  or  election  of  councillors 
were  these : 

Besides  a  residence  of  at  least  four  years  on  the  Island,  some  one 
of  the  following  qualifications  were  required: 

To  be  or  to  have  been  president  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  or 
the  Economic  Society  of  Friends  of  the  Country  or  of  the  Planters' 
Club;  to  be  or  to  have  been  director  of  the  university,  or  dean  of  the 
College  of  Lawyers  of  the  capital  of  a  province  for  a  period  of  two 
years ;  to  have  been  for  a  period  of  four  years  before  the  election  one 
among  the  fifty  largest  taxpayers  in  the  Island ;  to  have  exercised 
the  functions  of  Senator  of  the  kingdom  or  Deputy  to  the  Cortes  in 
one  or  more  legislatures ;  to  have  been  once  or  more  than  once  pre 
sident  of  the  provincial  Chambers  of  Deputies  of  the  Island;  to  have 
been  for  two  or  more  terms  of  two  years  each  a  member  of  the  Pro 
vincial  Commission,  or  for  eight  years  a  provincial  Deputy;  to  have 


UNITED   STATES   TO  THE   RESCUE.  241 

been  for  two  or  more  terms  Mayor  in  a  capital  of  a  province ;  to 
have  been  councillor  of  administration  for  two  or  more  years  previous 
to  the  promulgation  of  this  law. 

The  councillors  shall  remain  in  office  for  a  term  of  four  years,  the 
election  taking  place  every  two  years  alternately  in  the  provinces  of 
Havana,  Pinar  del  Rio  and  Puerto  Principe,  and  in  those  of  Matanzas, 
Santa  Clara  and  Santiago  de  Cuba.  Havana  shall  elect  four  Council 
lors,  Santiago  de  Cuba  three  and  the  other  provinces  two  each.  The 
whole  number  of  Councillors  shall  be  elected  on  the  promulgation  of 
this  law.  In  ordinary  cases  the  elections  shall  take  place  at  the  same 
time  and  by  the  same  ballot  as  those  of  the  provincial  Deputies. 

The  Council  shall  examine  the  certificates  of  the  members  elected 
and  decide  as  to  the  legal  qualifications  of  the  nominees  of  the  people 
and  of  those  of  the  Crown,  and  shall  determine  all  questions  relating 
to  its  Constitution  in  conformity  to  the  law.  In  the  first  session  of 
each  year  the  Council  shall  appoint  two  vice-presidents  and  two 
secretaries,  selected  from  the  whole  number  of  the  Councillors.  The 
Governor-General,  whether  permanent  or  provisional,  shall  be  presi 
dent  of  the  Council. 

The  Council  of  Administration  shall  have  charge  of  all  questions 
relating  to  the  constitution  of  municipalities  and  to  the  aggregation, 
segregation  and  demarcation  of  municipal  districts.  All  questions 
relating  to  constitution  of  town  councils,  to  matters  pertaining  to 
election,  competency  of  nominees  and  the  like  shall  be  determined 
by  the  provincial  Chamber  of  Deputies.  Presidents  of  the  munici 
palities  will  be  those  elected  by  the  town  councils  among  the  town 
councillors,  unless  the  Governor-General  shall  deem  it  expedient  to 
replace  them. 

The  Council  of  Administration  shall  decree  whatsoever  it  may 
deem  expedient  for  the  conduct  of  the  public  works  throughout  the 
Island  and  of  the  telegraphic  and  postal  communications,  both  by 
land  and  sea;  of  agriculture,  industry  and  commerce  and  of  immigra 
tion  and  colonization,  of  public  instruction  and  of  charities  and  health, 
without  prejudice  to  the  powers  of  supervision  and  other  powers 
inherent  in  the  sovereignty  reserved  by  the  laws  to  the  national 
16 


UNITED  STATES  TO  THE  RESCUE. 

government.  It  shall  make  up  and  approve  the  annual  budget, 
making  in  it  the  necessary  appropriations  for  the  administrative 
department,  the  heads  of  which  may  be  summoned  for  the  council  of 
the  administration,  but  shall  not  have  the  right  to  vote.  The  council 
shall  exercise  such  functions  as  the  municipal  and  provincial  laws 
may  assign  to  it  and  such  as  are  assigned  by  other  special  laws. 

Everything  Controlled  by  the  Governor-General. 

The  Governor-General  will  continue  to  be  the  immediate  represen 
tative  of  the  national  government  in  the  Island  of  Cuba.  He  will 
have  supreme  command  of  all  the  forces  on  land  and  sea  stationed  on 
the  Island.  He  will  be  the  delegate  of  the  Ministers  of  the  Colony, 
State,  war  and  navy,  and  all  the  other  authorities  of  the  Island  will 
be  subordinate  to  him.  His  appointment  or  removal  will  emanate 
from  the  President  of  the  Cabinet,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  latter. 

He  will  continue  to  have  direct  charge  of  all  international  ques 
tions,  and  will  have  an  advisory  council,  composed  of  the  Reverend 
Bishop  of  Havana,  or  the  Reverend  Archbishop  of  Santiago  de  Cuba ; 
the  Commander-General  of  the  Navy,  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  the 
President  and  the  Attorney- General  of  the  High  Court  of  Havana, 
the  head  of  the  Department  of  Finance  and  the  director  of  local 
administration. 

In  addition  to  the  Island  administrative  reforms  adopted  by  the 
Cortes  of  1895,  the  Spanish  Ministry  considered  a  question  of  larger 
representation  of  native  Cubans  in  public  offices  on  the  Island,  and 
several  important  reforms  in  regard  to  customs  and  internal  taxation. 

Meanwhile  the  war  went  on  in  Cuba,  and  Captain-General  Weyler, 
the  man  who  was  to  accomplish  so  much,  who  was  to  crush  the 
rebellion  within  a  few  months,  and  who  was  to  repair  the  mistakes  of 
Campos,  only  involved  the  loyal  cause  in  fresh  misfortunes.  His 
columns  were  defeated,  his  heartless  proclamations  set  at  naught,  and 
the  very  discretion  which  kept  him  in  safety  in  his  Palace,  was  a  fruit 
ful  subject  for  all  kinds  of  unflattering  insinuations. 

Says  a  correspondent :  "  Looking  at  him  closely  the  other  day  I 
was  struck  more  than  ever  with  a  curiosity  to  discover  how  it  *s  that 


UNITED    STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE.  243 

he  has  succeeded  in  inspiring  people  with  any  confidence  in  his 
character.  He  does  not  even  possess  the  appearance  of  a  great  male 
factor,  such  as  one  can  fancy  of  a  Danton  or  a  Sulla,  but,  on  the  con 
trary,  that  of  a  very  commonplace  criminal,  who  would  not  look  out 
of  place  in  any  police  court  in  any  city  of  the  world. 

"  Perhaps  it  is  due  to  the  effect  which  he  produces  when,  trussed 
up  in  uniform,  with  his  ribband  and  stars,  and  the  Cruz  Laureada,  the 
Spanish  equivalent  of  the  Victoria  Cross,  gained  in  San  Domingo 
in  all  probability  for  some  action  like  Melguizo's.  He  is  then  a 
butoned-up  man  like  Mr.  Tite  Barnacle,  who,  we  have  it  on  the 
authority  of  Dickens,  was  consequently  a  weighty  one.  All  buttoned- 
up  men  are  weighty,  all  buttoned-up  men  are  believed  in. 

Failure  of  General  Weyler's  Plans. 

"  Weyler  has  the  bitter  disappointment  just  at  present  of  knowing 
that  the  latest  of  his  carefully  devised  plans  has  failed  in  its  effect. 
Maceo,  with  some  six  hundred  of  his  followers,  has  crossed  the 
formidable  trocha  near  Cayujabos,  though  how  he  crossed  it  remains 
still  a  mystery.  This  military  Figaro  is  accustomed  to  perform  such 
feats  and  to  appear  in  the  most  unexpected  places  without  the 
slightest  warning. 

"  The  Spaniards,  however,  have  a  way  of  accounting  for  his  last 
exploit  which  is  more  ingenious  than  probable.  They  say  the 
insurgents  disguise  themselves  as  banana-sellers  whenever  they  desire 
to  pass  through  any  fortified  line.  The  soldiers  imagine  that  they 
are  innocent  countrymen,  and  consequently  never  think  of  interfering 
with  their  passage.  Of  course  not.  Have  not  recent  events  shown 
the  perfect  impunity  with  which  non-combatants  are  at  liberty  to 
wander  everywhere  in  safety,  and  how  considerate  and  gentle  com 
manding  officers  have  proved  themselves  of  late  ? 

"  True  to  his  policy  of  suppressing  or  distorting  all  news  unfavor 
able  to  the  Spanish  cause,  Captain-General  Weyler  has  exerted  him 
self  to  conceal  the  recognition  of  the  belligerent  rights  of  the  insur 
gents  by  Congress.  For  many  days  the  newspapers  in  Havana  have 
been  accustomed  to  announce  that  no  telegrams  had  been  received  b^ 


244  UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE. 

them  from  the  United  States,  but  now  they  are  forbidden  to  print 
even  this  notice,  as  doubtless  too  suggestive  of  coercive  measures. 

"  And  yet,  of  what  avail  is  all  this  secrecy  in  such  a  case  ?  Does 
the  government  imagine  that  a  fact  unacknowledged,  for  that  very 
reason  ceases  to  exist,  or  do  they  cling  to  the  hope  of  something  in 
the  chapter  of  accidents  to  avert  its  fulfillment  ?  The  good  tidings 
finally  leaked  out,  despite  all  precautions,  and  brought  joy  and  con 
solation  to  many  a  heart. 

"  It  is  still,  however,  too  little  circulated  to  permit  of  any  effect 
being  openly  manifest.  The  streets  are  tranquil,  people  attend  to 
their  business  as  usual,  and  there  is  no  appearance  of  any  popular 
disturbance.  There  may,  indeed,  be  none,  or  if  there  be  it  will  surely 
follow  upon  some  initiative  proceeding  in  Barcelona  or  Madrid. 

"  The  Spaniards  in  Havana  are  inveterate  enough  towards  the 
United  States,  but  then  they  live  too  near  its  shores  not  to  recognize 
the  power  and  importance  which  distant  Spain  has  not  yet  learned  to 
appreciate.  They  would  like,  had  they  a  reasonable  chance  of  suc 
cess,  to  gp  to  war,  while  in  their  hearts  they  must  acknowledge  how 
vain  is  the  delusion  of  landing  an  invading  army  or  of  sweeping 
American  commerce  from  the  ocean.  They  have  continually  before 
their  eyes,  too,  the  desperate  condition  of  affairs  in  this  Island,  and 
they  can  realize  in  a  way  which  their  fellow-countrymen  cannot,  the 
disastrous  overthrow  of  the  Captain-General's  tactics. 

"  At  this  very  time  many  of  the  people  in  the  Province  of  Pinar 
del  Rio  have  abandoned  their  dwellings,  and  are  hiding  in  the  sugar 
cane  to  escape  the  brutalities  of  the  columns,  who  are  far  more  zeal 
ous  in  seeking  such  opponents  than  in  following  up  the  Cuban 
forces.  One  can  imagine  a  conversation  between  a  privileged  stranger 
and  a  sentinel  upon  one  of  the  innumerable  forts  along  the  tracks. 

"  '  What  is  that  large  body  of  men  whom  I  see  approaching  from 
the  hills  ? ' 

"'  Oh,  that/  replies  the  other  carelessly;  'why,  nothing  but  a 
crowd  of  fellows  coming  to  sell  fruit  to  the  troops.' 

"  '  Your  men  are  fond  of  fruit,  then  ?  '  asks  the  stranger. 

"  '  Oh,  passionately,'  says  the  sentinel. 


UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE.  245 

"'  But  they  have  arms,  I  notice/  this  a  little  anxiously,  'and  they 
don't  seem  inclined  to  stop.' 

"  'Why,  you  see  how  it  is/  answers  the  soldier,  'the  colonos  all 
carry  machetes,  besides  which,  since  that  unfortunate  affair  at  El 
Cano,  we  have  to  be  cautious  about  firing  upon  stray  parties.' 

" '  But,  I  say,  look  there,  they've  surely  got  a  Cuban  flag.' 

" '  Don't  know,  I'm  sure.  I'm  color  blind,'  says  the  sentinel, 
resuming  his  rounds  and  dropping  the  conversation. 

"  It  is,  indeed,  true  that  the  Spaniards  have  been  signalizing  them 
selves  of  late  by  their  lamentable  mistakes.  The  last  one  did  not 
certainly  destroy  any  of  their  own  men,  but  it  resulted  in  the  death 
of  four  women  and  two  children.  This  was  on  the  evening  of  the 
attack  upon  Hayo  Colorado.  About  nightfall  a  body  of  insurgents 
crept  through  an  open  drain  into  the  town,  and  had  secured  a  safe 
position  before  their  presence  was  recognized  by  the  garrison  or  by 
the  outposts  stationed  in  the  forts  around. 

Reckless  Firing  in  the  Streets. 

"The  invaders  were  left  unmolested  to  procure  such  stores  and 
supplies  as  they  required,  and  it  was  only  when  their  business  was 
transacted  and  they  had  departed  that  the  soldiers  ventured  to  com 
mence  firing.  The  volleys  which  they  then  poured  at  random  into  the 
streets  failed  in  their  object,  for  the  excellent  reason  that  the  enemy 
was  not  there,  but  they  killed  the  women  and  children  all  the  same. 

"  Strong  measures  are  evidently  to  be  taken  with  those  planters 
who  have  failed  to  make  at  least  some  attempt  at  grinding.  One  of 
the  offenders,  Pedro  Larrondo,  of  Sagua  la  Grande,  in  Santa  Clara, 
has  just  been  arrested  for  his  obstinacy  in  this  respect.  In  all  proba 
bility  he  thought  it  wiser  to  suffer  the  loss  of  one  year's  produce 
than  to  incur  the  certainty  of  having  his  fields  and  buildings 
destroyed  by  fire;  but  it  remains  to  be  seen  whether  Weyler's  anger 
may  not  prove  more  disastrous  still  than  Cuban  flames. 

"  Some  men  are  now  putting  in  large  claims  against  the  govern 
ment  for  their  many  losses,  alleging  with  reason  that  the  order  com 
manding  all  civilians  to  withdraw  from  the  country  into  the  towns, 


246  UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE. 

had  left  their  plantations  and  farms  completely  at  the  mercy  of  the 
insurgents,  and  had  also  caused  their  cattle  to  die  from  want  of 
water.  But  of  what  avail  will  it  be  even  if  these  claims  are  admit 
ted? 

': '  Honey  from  silk  worms,  who  can  gather, 
Or  silk  from  the  yellow  bee?'' ' 

"  And  still  more,  who  can  expect  to  get  compensation  from  a 
bankrupt  nation,  who  do  not  pay  their  own  army,  and  who  have 
repudiated  the  many  debts  incurred  in  the  last  war  in  Cuba  ? 

"  The  spy  system  continues  on  the  even  tenor  of  its  way  in 
Havana,  in  a  manner  that  is  sometimes,  though  not  often,  exceed 
ingly  ridiculous.  When  we  American  correspondents  assemble  in  a 
group  we  are  generally  aware  of  the  same  stunted  individual,  who 
hovers  on  the  outskirts  with  an  assumed  air  of  innocence,  which  sits 
about  as  well  on  his  Old-Bailey-looking  countenance  as  a  smile 
would  on  that  of  a  rhinoceros.  They  are  kittle-cattle,  however,  to 
deal  with,  these  honored  companions  of  the  Spanish  officers. 

"  They  have  methods  of  supplying  evidence  which  have  the  merit, 
it  least,  of  being  unavoidable,  and  as  they  are  never  subjected  to  the 
cross-examination  of  their  victims  their  carefully-prepared  fabrica 
tions  invariably  triumph.  It  was,  m  all  probability,  to  one  of  their 
tvell-devised  schemes  that  Mariano  Artiz,  of  Narcissa,  near  Saguajay, 
A  Cuban  of  fortune  and  position,  owes  the  fact  that  he  is  now  a  pris 
oner.  An  envelope  directed  to  him  was  stopped  at  the  post-office,  in 
Accordance  with  the  system  which  holds  no  correspondence  as 
sacred,  and  in  it  was  found  a  letter  to  Maximo  Gomez." 

About  the  middle  of  April  one  of  the  staff  officers  of  the  Cuban 
Army  was  in  Philadelphia  recovering  from  a  wound  received  in  a 
battle  with  the  Spanish  troops.  He  said  that  Gomez  was  again  at  the 
head  of  the  insurgent  forces  and  that  Maceo  would  get  away  from  the 
enemy,  reported  to  have  him  hemmed  in.  Atrocities  he  declared 
continued.  With  the  advent  of  the  rainy  season  he  said  the  patriots 
would  inaugurate  an  offensive  campaign. 

The  story  he  told  of  the  progress  of  the  war,  of  the  atrocities  per 
petrated  after  General  Weyler  assumed  command  of  the  Spanish 


UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE.  247 

forces,  and  of  the  health  of  General  Gomez,  was  one  that  will  be  read 
with  interest,  painful  as  it  is  in  some  respects. 

Peraza  (this  officer's  name)  was  a  fine  specimen  of  the  patriotic 
volunteer.  Fully  six  feet  in  height,  but  twenty-four  years  of  age,  and 
weighing  177  pounds,  burned  very  dark  by  the  tropical  sun  under 
which  he  lived,  he  looked  to  be  a  hard  fighter.  He  was  wounded  in 
a  charge  by  the  cavalry  of  his  division,  a  rifle  ball  entering  his  left 
shoulder.  Bailing  to  have  it  extracted  in  the  camp  hospital,  he 
managed  to  get  to  New  York  by  steamer,  bringing  with  him  some 
important  military  papers,  and  there  the  missile  was  located  and  taken 
out.  He  was  awaiting  a  favorable  opportunity  to  get  back  to  the 
scene  of  strife. 

Some  Inside  Facts. 

In  his  statement  he  said :  "  I  want  at  the  outset  to  deny  that 
General  Gomez  has  been  wounded  or  that  he  is  dying  of  consump 
tion,  as  has  been  reported  through  Spanish  sources.  He  has  been 
sick  from  liver  troubles,  but  is  in  a  fair  way  to  complete  recovery 
and  is  again  at  the  head  of  his  forces,  as  active  as  he  ever  was  and  as 
confident  of  ultimate  success  as  at  any  time  since  he  took  the  field. 
He  has  now  directly  under  him  an  army  of  12,000  men,  most  of 
whom  are  well  armed. 

"  His  total  strength,  counting  the  divisions  of  Maceo  and  other 
generals,  is  about  30,000.  What  is  mostly  lacking  is  ammunition. 
We  meet  the  Spaniards  and  fight  as  long  as  our  cartridges  hold 
out  and  then  divide  into  small  groups,  scattering  in  such  a  way  that 
the  government  troops  cannot  reach  us  in  force. 

"  As  to  the  burning  of  the  plantations,  the  Spanish  reports  are  to 
a  great  extent  false.  When  any  of  our  generals  attack  a  place  con 
taining  Americans  or  other  foreigners  their  property  is  respected  and 
is  not  touched  at  all.  Gomez  has  issued  positive  orders  to  protect 
the  interests  of  such  persons  rather  than  to  harm  them.  With  regard 
to  the  reports  of  our  losses  in  battle  they  are  always  exaggerated  by 
the  enemy. 

(<  The  latter  never  admit  their  own  Josses,  but  count  those  on  our 


248  UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE. 

side  as  it  may  suit  themselves.  Our  dead  are  always  earned  away 
and  buried  in  the  most  convenient  spots.  None  of  our  wounded  are 
left  on  the  field  for  fear  the  Spaniards  would  kill  them  outright.  We 
send  our  wounded  to  the  hospitals,  located  in  the  mountain  fastnesses. 
Every  division  of  our  army  has  one  of  these  places  thus  situated. 
There  there  are  regular  physicians,  a  few  of  them  being  from  the 
United  States.  There  are  no  Sisters  of  Charity,  but  there  are  Red 
Cross  men  and  women,  mostly  Cubans. 

"  The  recent  successful  expeditions  have  been  a  great  help  to  us. 
We  have  got  some  more  artillery,  and  it  is  being  used  under  the 
direction  of  General  Bandera  in  the  province  of  Labillas.  The  rainy 
season  begins  about  the  I5th  of  this  month.  Then  comes  the  yellow 
fever.  It  will  decimate  the  ranks  of  the  Spanish  soldiers,  because 
they  are  not  acclimated.  Our  forces  will,  however,  go  on  harassing 
the  enemy  and  will  be  on  the  offensive  all  the  time  instead  of  on  the 
defensive. 

"  General  Weyler  has  not  been  any  more  successful  against  us 
than  was  Campos.  In  fact,  less  so.  Our  people  think  the  former  tc 
be  a  coward  at  heart.  Campos  took  the  field,  while  Weyler  has  not 
shown  himself  at  all.  He  remains  in  Havana  and  gives  orders  to  his 
so-called  volunteers — orders  which  lead  to  many  atrocities. 

"  I  have  seen  with  my  own  eyes,  on  a  farm  in  Lavinas,  the  bodies 
of  men  who  had  been  shot  down  simply  because  they  were  known 
to  sympathize  with  the  cause  of  liberty.  One  of  my  awn  cousins 
who  was  captured  by  the  Spaniards  was  hung  to  a  tree  and  several 
shots  fired  into  him.  When  we  take  wounded  Spaniards  we  care  for 
them,  after  taking  away  their  rifles,  until  they  are  able  to  .get  back  to 
their  companions,  when  they  are  permitted  to  go.  The  killing  of  old 
men  and  old  women  by  the  Spanish  volunteers  goes  on,  no  matter 
what  the  reports  from  government  sources  may  say. 

"  Concerning  the  statement  that  General  Maceo  has  been  hemmed 
in,  I  can  only  say  that  once  before  he  was  in  a  far  worse  position  than 
he  now  is.  He  is  as  cool  and  fearless  as  Gomez,  and  when  he  M 
to  get  away  I  guess  he  will  be  able  to  do  it." 

The  lieutenant  was  wounded  in  the  left  shoulder,  "  right  nea 


UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE.  249 

Carolina  State,"  he  said.  General  Lacret  was  endeavoring  to  join  a 
portion  of  his  column  that  had  become  separated  from  him,  when  he 
was  attacked  by  the  Spaniards  numbering  3000.  Lacret  had  about 
1000  men.  The  fight  lasted  about  two  hours,  when  the  insurgents 
retreated.  Peraza  told  of  a  little  boy  but  thirteen  years  of  age,  who 
was  in  one  of  the  fights.  A  Spanish  officer  had  had  his  arm  broken 
by  a  rifle  ball,  but  with  his  good  hand  he  shot  at  the  lad,  hitting  him 
in  the  left  breast.  The  lad  fell  with  a  cry  of  "  three  cheers  for  Free 
Cuba."  He  was  sent  to  the  hospital  and  ultimately  recovered.  These 
children,  the  lieutenant  said,  follow  the  insurgents  from  place  to  place 
and  are  permitted  to  remain  because  of  the  fear  that  they  will  be 
killed  if  sent  away. 

General  Maceo  Wins  a  Battle. 

On  April  I5th  news  reached  Havana  that  there  had  been  heavy 
fighting  in  Pinar  del  Rio  province.  Even  official  reports  admitted 
that  the  Spanish  columns  were  repulsed  by  General  Antonio  Maceo, 
with  great  loss  of  life.  The  admission  was  very  significant,  in  view 
of  the  circumstances  and  the  character  of  official  reports,  which  gave 
rise  to  a  proverb  that  the  Spaniards'  loss  was  always  one  man  when* 
ever  they  were  compelled  to  acknowledge  defeat. 

It  was  very  difficult  to  obtain  details  of  Maceo's  victory.  The 
Spanish  version  alone  was  received.  All  telegraph  lines  were  cut,  and 
news  filtered  to  the  city  only  by  word  of  mouth.  The  battle  was  west 
of  the  military  strategic  line,  near  Lechuza.  Government  reports  had 
previously  located  Maceo  through  an  error  at  Lachuza,  east  of  the  line. 

Further  information  received  from  private  sources  in  Havana 
showed  that  this  was  the  bloodiest  engagement  of  the  war.  The 
Spanish  forces,  under  Colonel  Linares,  suffered  overwhelming  defeat 
at  the  hands  of  Antonio  Maceo,  who  commanded  a  force  of  eight 
thousand  men  in  a  strong  position. 

Spanish  reports  placed  Colonel  Linares'  force  at  fifteen  hundred, 
of  whom  450  were  killed  ana  500  wounded.  The  insurgents  lost  200 
killed  and  about  400  wounded.  The  Spanish  plan  was  for  three  bat 
talions  to  attack  Maceo  simultaneously,  but  Colonel  Echoverrea'f 


250  UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE. 

battalion  failed  to  arrive.  It  was  stated  that  he  was  to  be  court- 
martialed. 

Maceo  led  his  troops  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  and  Colonel 
Linares'  forces  retreated  in  disorder.  They  finally  made  a  stand  on 
the  wharf  of  the  San  Claudia  plantation  behind  rude  fortifications, 
until  a  warship  came  to  their  rescue.  The  Cuban  forces  on  the 
shore  made  sad  havoc  with  the  troops  as  they  embarked,  shooting 
them  down  in  their  boats.  In  the  battle  the  Amazons,  a  company  of 
Cuban  women,  fought  bravely. 

In  an  effort  to  capture  Colonel  Linares,  an  insurgent,  Alvarez,  got 
separated.  Seeing  his  danger,  Mrs.  Alvarez  and  several  others 
followed  him.  Both  husband  and  wife  were  caught  in  the  Spanish 
lines  and  tried  to  fight  their  way  back  with  machetes.  Thinking  that 
his  wife  was  at  his  side  still,  Alvarez  made  his  escape,  but  she  was 
cut  off  at  the  last  moment  and  was  literally  hacked  to  pieces  by 
Spanish  machetes.  In  his  grief  and  chagrin  Alvarez  shot  himself 

seriously. 

"If  You  Live  I  Will  Hang  You." 

General  Maceo  commanded  him  to  appear  before  him.  On 
demanding  a  reason  for  his  crime,  Alvarez  said  he  could  not  endure 
life  purchased  by  his  wife's  death.  Maceo  replied :  "  Pray  God  you 
may  die,  for  if  you  live  I  will  surely  hang  you.  Cuba  needs  men  too 
sorely  to  lose  any  except  in  the  face  of  the  enemy. " 

The  news  of  the  Spanish  defeat  produced  a  great  sensation  in 
Havana,  and  the  censors  were  forced  to  admit  many  details. 

Maceo's  alleged  heavy  losses  at  La  Palma,  on  the  other  hand,  were 
corroborated  by  details  received  at  Havana  through  non-official 
sources.  The  town  was  well  fortified,  and  the  rebel  leader's  attack 
was  repelled.  He  directed  his  cannon  on  the  town  with  his  own 
hands.  He  was  very  anxious  to  capture  it,  as  it  contained  large 
stores  of  ammunition  and  supplies.  Two  hundred  volunteered  and 
made  the  attempt.  They  crawled  on  their  hands  and  knees  through 
the  fields,  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  managed  to  enter  the 
town.  Ninety  were  shot  from  behind  the  walls  before  the  others 
beat  a  retreat,  Nearly  all  those  killed  were  negroes. 


UNITED   STATES  TO    THE   RESCUE.  251 

An  unusually  large  number  of  sugar  plantations  were  burned. 
The  losses  from  this  source  were  said  to  aggregate  $4,500,000  within 
a  period  of  eight  days.  Property-owners  ran  equal  risks  from  both 
sides.  The  Spanish  troops  passing  estates  shared  by  insurgents 
burned  them,  believing  that  the  owners  paid  taxes  to  the  insurgent 
government.  The  insurgents  also  continued  their  policy  of  destruc 
tion,  and  were  determined  to  lay  the  country  waste.  The  ruin  was 
widespread,  and  the  misery  was  growing  greater. 

The  insurgents  anxiously  awaited  a  formal  declaration  of  belliger 
ency  by  the  United  States,  and  believed  that  every  South  and  Central 
American  government  would  immediately  follow  the  example. 

"A  delay  until  August  will  mean  the  destruction  of  property  worth 
$80,000,000  more,"  said  one  leader,  grimly.  "  Weyler's  regime  has 
been  marked  by  horrible  cruelty,  and  minor  officials  feel  or  know  that 
extreme  measures  will  be  approved." 

Reports  of  massacres  of  innocent  persons  everywhere  in  the  inte 
rior  were,  in  fact,  received  daily  in  Havana.  The  Delgado  incident 
was  duplicated  frequently,  but  the  victims  did  not  live  to  tell  the  tale. 

Already  there  was  a  scarcity  of  horses  in  Cuba.  General  Weyler 
issued  a  decree  that  all  owners  of  horses  must  have  them  examined 
by  the  government,  so  that  all  needed  for  the  use  of  the  troops  might 
be  bought.  There  was  a  promise  of  fair  and  prompt  payment. 
Animals  not  fit  for  service  were  to  be  registered  as  worthless ;  others 
would  either  be  taken  or  held  subject  to  call,  and  branded  to  indicate 
their  class.  Owners  failing  to  comply  were  to  be  deemed  "  unfaith 
ful  "  to  their  country. 

The  threat  had  a  terrible  meaning  in  the  existing  condition  of 
affairs,  when  executions  of  insurgents  were  too  common  to  attract 
more  than  passing  notice.  Several  persons  living  in  Havana,  on 
reading  the  orders,  promptly  decided  to  kill  their  riding  horses  to 
prevent  them  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards. 

" That  is  the  only  sensible  plan,"  remarked  a  prominent  man.  "We 
don't  want  to  help  the  enemy  with  animals.  If  the  government  took 
our  horses  we  would  have  a  small  claim,  and  little  chance  of  payment. 
We  can't  keep  them  safely,  and  the  best  way  is  to  slaughter  them," 


252  UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE. 

Orders  were  given  to  the  army  to  kill  all  horses  and  cattle  in  the 
country  that  could  not  be  utilized,  to  prevent  their  possible  use  by 
the  insurgents.  Cavalrymen,  whose  mounts  became  too  jaded  to 
keep  the  line,  must  kill  them.  Passing  troops  were  to  use  cattle  for 
rifle  practice,  and  whenever  they  saw  horses  they  were  to  corcpare 
them  with  their  own  to  see  if  an  exchange  was  desirable. 

Scarcity  of  food  was  reported  everywhere  in  the  interior  of  the 
Island.  The  price  of  meat  rose  in  Havana.  Game,  which  formerly 
abounded  in  the  local  market,  could  not  be  obtained,  as  there  was  no 
one  to  shoot  birds  in  the  hills  except  the  troops.  The  fish  supply 
continued  good,  although  the  fishermen  were  prohibited  from  going 
on  the  water  except  between  sunrise  and  sunset,  for  fear  of  commu 
nicating  with  the  insurgents. 

Blood  and  Conflagration. 

An  interesting  letter  from  General  Gomez,  the  Cuban  leader,  con 
cerning  the  war  conditions  on  the  Island,  was  received  by  President 
Palma,  of  the  Cuban  Junta.  It  reads  as  follows : 

"  SAGUA,  CUBA,  March  19. 

"  DEAR  FRIEND  : — The  war  continues  more  active  and  hard  on 
account  of  the  fierce  character  which  General  Weyler  has  given  to  it. 

"  Our  wounded  are  followed  and  assassinated  cruelly  ;  he  who  has 
the  misfortune  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Spanish  troops,  perishes 
without  fail.  The  peaceful  country  people  only  find  death  and  dis 
honor. 

tl  Cuba  to-day,  as  in  1 868,  only  presents  pools  of  blood  dried  by 
conflagrations.  Our  enemies  are  burning  the  houses  to  deprive  us, 
according  to  them,  of  our  quarters  for  Spring.  We  will  never  use 
reprisals,  for  we  understand  that  the  revolution  will  never  need  to 
triumph  by  being  cruel  and  sanguinary. 

"We  will  go  on  with  this  war,  the  ultimate  result  of  which  you 
need  not  worry  about — with  success  for  the  arms  of  the  republic. 
We  fight,  when  convenient  to  us,  against  an  enemy  tired  out  and 
without  faith. 


UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE.  253 

"  My  plans  are  well  understood  by  my  subordinates  and  each  one 
knows  what  to  do.  Give  us  cartridges  so  that  our  soldiers  can  fight, 
and  you  can  depend  that  in  the  Spring  campaign  the  enemy's  army 
will  be  greatly  reduced,  and  it  will  be  necessary  for  Spain  to  send 
another  army,  and  I  do  not  know  whether  it  would  be  rash  to  say 
that  perhaps  Spain  has  not  the  money  with  which  to  do  it. 

"  Everything  that  Spain  orders  and  sends  to  this  land,  that  she  has 
drenched  with  the  blood  of  her  own  children,  only  serves  to  ruin  her 
power.  And  no  man  could  be  so  well  chosen  as  General  Weyler,  to 
represent  in  these  times  and  in  America  the  Spain  of  Philip  II. 

"  Much  is  said  and  written  about  the  recognition  of  belligerency 
by  the  American  Government ;  this  would  be  very  advantageous  to 
us,  and  is  only  doing  justice,  but  as  when  we  rose  against  tyranny, 
we  only  counted  on  the  strength  of  our  arms  and  the  firm  resolution 
of  victory,  we  follow  our  march  unconcerned,  satisfied  that  what  is 

to  happen  will  happen. 

"Your  friend, 

t{  MAXIMO  GOMEZ." 

Maceo  Discusses  his  Western  Campaign. 

A  letter  from  General  Antonio  Maceo,  the  insurgent  Cuban  leader, 
which  showed  his  movements  and  the  success  met  with,  was  received 
by  Cuban  leaders  at  Washington.  It  was  dated  at  Cabanas,  March 
21,  and  read  as  follows  : 

"  You  know  by  my  previous  letters  that  the  triumphant  arms  of  the 
Republic  were  carried  to  the  extreme  western  end  of  the  Island. 
Everything  that  we  desired  has  been  obtained.  The  revolution  is 
powerful  in  the  provinces,  which,  as  you  know,  were  considered  to  be 
bulwarks  of  Spanish  sentiment.  Even  the  most  remote  places  in  the 
province  of  Pinar  Del  Rio  responded  admirably. 

"ANTONIO  MACEO." 

Respecting  the  promises  of  Spain  to  institute  reforms  in  Cuba, 
hoping  thereby  to  end  the  insurrection,  T.  Estrada  Palma,  Cuban 
Delegate  to  the  Government  at  Washington,  said  : 


254  UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE. 

f<  The  question  of  the  supposed  reforms  is  not  a  matter  which  at  all 
concerns  those  who  have  already  established  an  independent  govern 
ment  in  Cuba  and  have  resolved  to  shrink  from  no  sacrifice  of  pro 
perty  or  life  in  order  to  emancipate  the  whole  Island  from  the  Spanish 
yoke.  Spain  must  know  by  this  time  that  while  there  is  a  single  living 
Cuban  with  dignity  there  will  not  be  peace  in  Cuba  nor  even  the 
hope  of  it. 

"  If  the  right  of  thirteen  British  Colonies  to  rise  in  arms  in  order  to 
acquire  their  independence  has  never  been  questioned,  will  there  be  a 
single  citizen  in  this  great  republic  who  will  doubt  the  justice,  the 
necessity  in  which  the  Cuban  people  find  themselves  of  fighting  until 
they  shall  have  overthrown  Spanish  oppression  in  their  country  and 
formed  themselves  into  a  free  republic  ? 

Must  be  Fought  to  the  Bitter  End. 

"  Experience  has  taught  us  that  as  a  people  we  have  nothing  to 
envy  the  Spaniards — in  fact  we  feel  ourselves  superior  to  them,  and 
from  them  we  can  expect  no  improvement,  no  better  education. 

"  Let  all  know  also  that  between  the  present  revolution  and  the 
government  of  Spain  there  is  no  possible  arrangement,  if  not  based 
on  the  recognition  of  Cuban  independence." 

We  cannot  better  close  this  tragic  story  of  Cuba's  gallant  struggle 
for  independence  than  by  quoting  the  words  of  one  of  her  distin 
guished  sons : 

"The  population  of  the  Island  is,  in  round  numbers,  1,600,000,  of 
which  less  than  200,000  are  Spaniards,  some  500,000  are  colored 
Cubans,  and  over  800,000  white  Cubans.  Of  the  Spaniards  a  small 
but  not  an  inconsiderable  fraction,  although  not  taking  an  active  part 
in  the  defense  of  our  cause,  sympathize  with  and  are  supporting  it  in 
various  ways.  Of  the  Cubans,  whether  colored  or  white,  all  are  in 
sympathy  with  the  revolution,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  scattered 
individuals  who  hold  positions  under  the  Spanish  Government  or  are 
engaged  in  enterprises  which  cannot  thrive  without  it.  All  of  the 
Cubans  who  have  had  the  means  and  the  opportunity  to  join  the 
revolutionary  army  have  done  so,  while  those  who  have  been  com- 


UNITED   STATES  TO   THE   RESCUE.  255 

pelled  for  one  reason  or  another  to  remain  in  the  cities  are  co 
operating  to  the  best  of  their  abilities.  If  the  people  of  the  small 
section  of  the  western  part  of  the  Island,  which  yet  remains  quiet, 
were  supplied  with  arms  and  ammunition  they  would  all  rise  to  a 
man  within  twenty-four  hours. 

I 

Spanish  Threats. 

"  This  revolution  of  the  whole  Cuban  people  against  the  Govern 
ment  of  Spain  is  what  the  Spanish  officials  are  pleased  to  describe  as 
a  disturbance  caused  by  a  few  adventurers,  robbers,  bandits,  and 
assassins  !  But  they  have  a  purpose  in  so  characterizing  it,  and  it  is 
no  other  than  to  justify,  in  some  way,  the  war  of  extermination  which 
the  Prime  Minister  of  Spain  himself  has  declared  will  be  waged  by 
his  Government  against  the  Cuban  people !  They  are  not  yet  satis 
fied  with  the  rivers  of  human  blood  with  which  in  times  past  they 
inundated  the  fields  of  Italy,  of  the  Low  Countries,  of  our  continent 
of  America,  and  only  a  few  years  ago,  of  Cuba  itself!  The  Spanish 
newspaper  of  Havana,  El  Pueblo,  urges  the  Spanish  soldiers  to  give 
no  quarter,  to  spare  no  one,  to  kill  all,  all  without  exception,  until 
they  shall  have  torrents  of  Cuban  blood  in  which  to  bathe  them 
selves  1 

"  It  is  well !  The  Cubans  accept  the  challenge,  but  they  will  not 
imitate  their  tyrants  and  cover  themselves  with  infamy  by  waging  a 
s.ivage  war.  The  Cubans  respect  the  lives  of  their  Spanish  prisoners, 
they  do  not  attack  hospitals,  and  they  cure  and  assist,  with  the  same 
c  ire  and  solicitude  with  which  they  cure  and  assist  their  own,  the 
wounded  Spaniards  who  may  fall  into  their  hands.  They  have  done 
;so  from  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  they  will  not  change  their 
humane  policy. 

"  The  Spanish  officials  have  also  attempted  to  convince  you  that 
the  Cuban  war  is  a  war  of  races.  Of  what  races  ?  Of  the  black 
against  the  white  ?  It  is  not  true,  and  the  facts  plainly  show  that 
there  is  nothing  of  the  kind.  Nor  is  the  war  waged  by  Cubans 
against  the  Spaniards  as  such.  No.  The  war  is  waged  against  the 
Government  of  Spain,  and  only  against  the  Government  of  Spain  and 


256  UNITED   STATES   TO   THE   RESCUE. 

the  officials  and  a  few  monopolists  who,  under  it,  live  and  thrive  upon 
the  substance  of  the  Cubans.  We  have  no  ill  feeling  against  the 
thousands  of  Spaniards  who  industriously  and  honestly  make  their 
living  in  Cuba. 

"  But  with  the  Spanish  Government  we  will  make  no  peace,  and  we 
will  make  no  compromise.  Under  its  rule  there  will  J^e  nothing  for 
our  people  but  oppression  and  misery.  For  years  and  years  the 
Cuban  people  hive  patiently  suffered,  and  in  the  interest  of  the  colony, 
as  well  as  in  th<\  interest  of  the  metropolis,  have  earnestly  prayed  for 
reforms.  Spain  has  not  only  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  prayers,  but 
instead  of  reforming  the  most  glaring  abuses  has  allowed  them  to 
increase  and  flourish,  until  such  a  point  has  been  reached  that  the 
continuation  of  the  Spanish  rule  means  for  the  Cuban  people  utter 
destruction." 


PART  II. 

History  of  Cuba  and  Spanish  Misrule. 


CHAPTER   XX. 
Early  Colonists  and  Rulers. 

CUBA,  the  finest  and  largest  of  the  West  India  Islands,  was 
discovered  b/  Columbus  himself,  on  the  28th  day  of  October, 
1492,  and  was  named  by  him  Juana,  in  honor  of  Prince  John, 
the  son  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  the  sovereigns  of  Aragon  and 
Castile. 

Upon  the  death  of  J^rdinand,  the  Island  was  called  Fernandina. 
It  afterward  received  the  name  of  Santiago,  as  a  mark  of  reverence 
for  the  patron  saint  of  Spain,  and  still  later,  the  inhabitants,  to  illustrate 
their  piety,  gave  it  that  of  Ave  Maria,  in  honor  of  the  Holy  Virgin. 

Notwithstanding  these  several  titles,  the  Island  is  still  principally 
known  by  its  original  Indian  name  of  Cuba ;  a  name  which  it  bore 
when  the  great  navigator  first  landed  on  its  shores,  and  which  in  all 
probability  it  is  destined  to  retain. 

With  regard  to  the  character  of  the  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  the 
Island,  it  is  universally  admitted  by  all  the  Spanish  authors  who  have 
written  on  the  subject,  that  they  were  disinterested  and  docile,  gentle 
and  generous,  and  that  they  received  the  first  discoverer,  as  well  as 
the  conquerors,  who  followed  in  his  track,  with  the  most  marked 
attention  and  courtesy.  At  the  same  time  they  are  represented  as 
being  entirely  given  up  to  the  enjoyment  of  those  personal  indul 
gences,  and  all  the  listlessness  and  love  of  ease,  which  the  climate 
is  supposed  to  provoke,  and  which  is  said  to  have  amounted  in  the 
17  257 


258  EARLY    COLONISTS   AND   RULERS. 

eyes  of  their  European  conquerors  to  positive  cowardice  and  pusilla 
nimity. 

They  seldom  spoke  until  first  addressed  by  the  strangers,  and  then 
with  perfect  modesty  and  respect.  Their  hospitality  was  unbounded  ; 
but  they  were  unwilling  to  expose  themselves  to  any  personal  fatigue 
beyond  what  was  strictly  necessary  for  their  subsistence.  The  culti 
vation  of  the  soil  was  confined,  as  Columbus  had  observed,  to  the 
raising  of  yams,  garbanzos,  and  maize,  or  Indian  corn,  but  as  hunts 
men  and  fishermen  they  were  exceedingly  expert. 

Their  Costume  and  Customs. 

Their  habiliments  were  on  the  most  limited  scale,  and  their  laws 
and  manners  sanctioned  the  practice  of  polygamy.  The  use  of  iron 
was  totally  unknown  to  them,  but  they  supplied  the  want  of  it  with 
pointed  shells,  in  constructing  their  weapons,  and  in  fashioning  their 
implements  for  fishing  and  the  chase.  Their  almost  total  want  of 
quadrupeds  is  worthy  of  notice. 

Although  the  Island  was  divided  into  nine  principalities,  under  nine 
different  caciques,  all  independent  of  each  other,  yet  such  was  the 
pacific  disposition  of  the  inhabitants  that  the  most  perfect  tranquillity 
prevailed  throughout  the  Island  at  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  in 
vaders.  The  several  governments  were  administered  in  the  simplest 
form,  the  will  of  the  cacique  being  received  as  law  by  his  subjects, 
and  the  age  he  had  attained  being  in  general  the  measure  of  his  in 
fluence  and  authority,  and  of  the  reverence  and  respect  with  which 
he  was  treated.  Their  religion  was  limited  to  a  belief  in  the  immor 
tality  of  the  soul,  and  to  the  existence  of  a  beneficent  Deity — un  Dio& 
remunerador. 

But  their  priests  were  cunning,  superstitious,  or  fanatic,  pretending 
to  intelligence  with  malignant  spirits,  and  maintaining  their  influence 
over  the  people  by  working  on  their  fears,  and  practicing  the 
grossest  and  most  ridiculous  extravagances.  No  sanguinary  sacri 
fices  were  resorted  to,  however ;  still  less  could  the  gentle  race  be 
chargeable  with  the  horrid  practices  of  the  savage  anthropophagi ; 
and,  according  to  the  earliest  Spanish  authorities,  they  distinguished 


EARLY   COLONISTS   AND    RULERS.  259 

themselves  beyond  any  other  Indian  nation  by  the  readiness  and 
docility  with  which  they  received  the  doctrines  of  Christianity. 

The  town  of  Baracoa,  which  was  called  de  la  Asumcion,  was  the 
first  that  was  founded,  and  was  for  some  time  considered  the  capital, 
until,  in  the  year  1514,  the  whole  of  it  had  been  overrun  and 
examined.  In  that  year,  the  towns  of  Santiago  and  Trinidad,  on  the 
southern  side,  were  founded  for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  com 
munications  of  the  new  colonists  with  the  Spanish  inhabitants  of 
Jamaica. 

Founding  a  New  Town. 

Near  the  centre  of  the  Island  also  were  established,  soon  after  this 
period,  the  towns  of  Bayamo,  Puerto  Principe,  and  Santi-Espiritus, 
and  that  of  Baracoa  was  considerably  enlarged.  In  the  sequel,  as 
there  was  no  town  toward  the  north,  that  of  San  Juan  de  los  Reme 
dies  was  founded;  and  on  the  25th  of  July,  1515,  at  the  place  now 
called  Batabano,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Island,  was  planted  a  town 
with  the  name  of  San  Cristobal  de  la  Habana,  in  deference  to  the 
memory  of  the  illustrious  discoverer;  but  in  the  year  1519  this  name 
was  transferred  to  the  place  where  the  capital  now  stands. 

The  leaning  of  the  Spaniards  toward  the  southern  side  of  the 
Island  appears  to  have  arisen  from  their  previous  possession  oi 
Jamaica  and  the  Costa  Firme ;  as  till  then  they  had  no  idea  of  the 
existence  of  the  Floridas,  or  of  New  Spain ;  the  expedition  for  the 
conquest  of  which,  as  well  as  the  steps  toward  tht  ir  first  discovery, 
having  been  taken  from  the  Island  of  Cuba. 

The  town  of  Baracoa,  having  first  been  raised  to  the  dignity  of  a 
city  and  a  bishopric,  was  declared  the  capital  of  the  Island  in  1518, 
and  remained  so  till  1522,  when  both  were  transferred  to  Santiago 
de  Cuba.  In  1538  the  Havana,  second  city  of  the  name,  was  sur 
prised  by  a  French  privateer,  who  reduced  it  to  ashes.  This  mis 
fortune  brought  the  Governor  of  the  Island,  Hernando  de  Soto,  to  the 
spot,  who  lost  no  time  in  laying  the  foundation  of  the  Castillo  de  la 
Fuerza,  one  of  the  numerous  fortresses  which  still  exist  for  the 
defence  of  the  city.  With  this  protection,  combined  with  the  advan 
tageous  geographical  position  of  the  harbor,  the  ships  already  pass- 


260  EARLY  COLONISTS  AND   RULERS. 

ing,  charged  with  the  riches  of  New  Spain,  on  their  way  to  the 
Peninsula,  were  induced  to  call  there  for  supplies  of  water  and 
provisions. 

In  this  way  the  Havana  began  to  rise  in  importance  by  insensible 
degrees,  insomuch  that  in  1549,  on  the  arrival  of  a  new  Governor, 
Gonzalez  Perez  de  Angulo,  he  resolved  on  making  it  his  place  of 
residence.  His  example  was  followed  by  subsequent  governors,  and 
in  this  way  the  city,  although  without  any  royal  or  legal  sanction, 
came  to  be  silently  regarded  as  the  capital  of  the  Island,  until  in 
1589  it  was  formally  declared  so  by  the  peninsular  government,  at 
the  time  of  the  nomination  of  the  first  Captain-General,  El  Maestre 
de  Campo,  Juan  de  Tejada,  who  was  positively  directed  to  take  up  his 
residence  at  the  Havana. 

Residence  of  Early  Chiefs. 

In  the  annals  of  the  Island  the  names  of  the  first  Governors  and 
of  their  lieutenants  have  not  been  recorded  with  a  degree  of  accuracy 
that  can  be  altogether  depended  on.  All  that  is  known  with  certainty 
is,  that  the  early  chiefs  resided  at  Santiago  de  Cuba,  from  its  being 
the  place  where  the  largest  population  was  collected,  from  its  prox 
imity  to  Jamaica  and  St.  Domingo,  and  from  its  being  the  seat  of  the 
ecclesiastical  jurisdiction.  For  the  Havana  and  other  towns  of  in> 
ferior  importance,  lieutenants  were  appointed. 

This  system  continued  until  the  year  1538,  when  Hernando  dcr 
Soto,  who,  to  the  rank  of  Adelantado  of  the  Floridas,  added  the  office 
of  Governor  of  Cuba,  having  arrived  at  Santiago,  passed  a  few  days 
there,  and  then  proceeded  to  the  continent.  In  his  absence  he  left 
the  government  of  the  Island  in  the  hands  of  a  lady,  Dona  Isabel  de 
Bobadilla,  and  gave  her  for  a  colleague,  Don  Juan  de  Rojas.  This 
Rojas  had  previously  resided  at  the  Havana,  in  quality  of  lieutenant- 
governor;  and  it  is  from  this  date  that  the  gradual  transference  of  the 
seat  of  power  from  Santiago  to  the  Havana  may  be  said  to  have 
arisen.  It  was  not  till  the  year  1607  that  the  Island  was  divided  into 
two  separate  governments. 

In  1545,  Don  Juan  de  Avila  assumed  the  government,  and  to  him 


EARLY   COLONISTS   AND    RULERS.  261 

in  1547  succeeded  Don  Antonio  de  Chavez,  to  whom  the  Havana  is 
indebted  for  its  first  regular  supply  of  water,  bringing  it  from  the 
river  called  by  the  aborigines  Casiguaguas,  and  by  the  Spaniards 
Chorrera,  a  distance  of  two  leagues  from  the  city.  At  that  period 
the  trade  of  the  place  was  limited.  The  largest  and  wealthiest  pro 
prietors  were  mere  breeders  of  cattle  ;  as  yet  agriculture  was  very  lit 
tle  attended  to,  and  any  actual  labor  performed  consisted  in  exploring 
the  neighborhood  in  pursuit  of  the  precious  metals. 

Obtaining  Supplies  at  Havana. 

To  this  governor  succeeded  Dr.  Gonzalo  Perez  de  Angulo,  whoj 
according  to  the  historian  Urrutia,  was  the  first  who  resided  at  the 
Havana  during  the  greater  part  of  his  administration.  At  this  pe 
riod  the  number  of  cattle  and  the  practice  of  agriculture  had  so 
much  increased  that  the  expeditions  from  the  neighboring  continent 
obtained  their  supplies  at  the  Havana,  and  from  thence  also  large 
quantities  of  provisions  were  sent  to  the  Terra  Firma.  For  some 
time  large  profits  were  made  by  means  of  these  exports,  more  espe 
cially  in  the  sale  of  horses  for  the  troops  ;  but  the  continental  settle 
ments,  having  at  length  been  able  to  provide  for  themselves,  this 
source  of  profit  was  dried  up. 

In  the  year  1554  the  government  was  assumed  by  Don  Diego  de 
Mazariegos,  and,  during  his  administration,  the  Havana  was  again 
attacked  and  reduced  to  ashes  by  the  French,  notwithstanding  the 
protection  supposed  to  be  afforded  by  the  Castillo  de  la  Fuerza. 
The  other  towns  of  the  Island  were  also  insulted,  insomuch  that  the 
bishop  of  the  diocese  was  compelled  to  leave  Santiago  and  take  up 
his  residence  at  Bayamo,  causing  a  serious  misunderstanding  be 
tween  the  ecclesiastical  authorities  and  the  civil  governor. 

To  Mazariegos,  in  1565,  succeeded  Garcia  Osorio,  and  to  Osorio, 
two  years  afterward,  Don  Pedro  Melendez  de  Avilez,  who  at  the 
same  time  held  the  office  of  Adelantado  of  the  Floridas,  administer 
ing  the  affairs  of  the  Island  for  a  number  of  years  by  means  of  a  series 
of  lieutenant-governors.  At  this  period,  the  hospital  of  San  Juan 
de  Dios,  and  a  church  dedicated  to  San  Cristobal,  were  erected  at  the 


262  EARLY   COLONISTS   AND    RULERS. 

Havana.     This  church  was  built  on  the  spot  now  occupied  oy  the 
residence  of  the  captain-general. 

Don  Gabriel  Montalvo  was  the  successor  of  Melendez,  and 
assumed  the  government  in  1576.  In  his  time  the  Franciscan  con 
vent  was  erected,  in  spite  of  the  opposition  of  the  bishop ;  and  prepa 
rations  were  made,  by  the  building  of  suitable  vessels,  for  the 
extirpation  of  the  pirates  by  whom  the  coasts  of  the  Island  were 
infested.  Don  Francisco  Carreno,  the  successor  of  Montalvo, 
assumed  the  command  in  1578.  In  his  time  the  weights  and  mea 
sures  of  the  Island  were  regulated  ;  and  vast  quantities  of  timber 
were  shipped  to  the  mother-country,  to  contribute  toward  the  con 
struction  of  the  convent  and  palace  of  the  Escurial. 

Raids  by  Pirates. 

During  the  administration  of  Don  Caspar  de  Torres,  the  successor 
of  Carreno,  who  arrived  in  1580,  not  only  Cuba,  but  the  neighboring 
islands  of  Jamaica  and  St.  Domingo,  were  more  than  ever  annoyed 
by  piratical  incursions.  The  expense  occasioned  by  the  attempts  to 
suppress  them  was  so  great  that  it  became  necessary  to  impose  a 
special  tax,  called  la  sisa  de  piragua,  to  cover  ft. 

At  this  period  was  begun  the  cultivation  of  tobacco  and  the  sugar 
cane,  the  labor  of  which  was  found  to  be  too  great  for  the  indolent 
aborigines,  whose  numbers  had  already  been  materially  diminished 
by  the  state  of  slavery  to  which  they  had  been  reduced.  It  was  to 
promote  the  production  of  these  new  luxuries  that  a  royal  license 
was  first  obtained  for  importing  negroes  from  the  coast  of  Africa. 

The  continued  presence  and  increasing  numbers  of  the  pirates 
began  to  give  a  factitious  importance  to  the  castellanos  of  the  fortress, 
which  protected  the  harbor  of  the  Havana,  and  sheltered  the  lanclias 
and  piraguas  and  the  guardacostas  themselves.  A  military  power 
thus  insensibly  arose,  which,  coming  into  collision  with  that  of  the 
civil  governor,  caused  a  great  deal  of  disturbance  and  confusion. 

The  next  governor,  Don  Gabriel  de  Lujan,  who  arrived  in  1584, 
ri'tie  to  such  z.  serious  rupture  with  Don  Diego  Fernandez  de  Qui- 
nones,  the  Castellano  de  la  Fuerza,  that  the  real  audiencia  of  the 


EARLY   COLONISTS  AND    RULERS.  263 

district,  at  the  instigation  of  Quinones,  took  it  upon  them  to  suspend 
Don  Gabriel  from  his  administration  of  the  government,  but  some 
time  afterward  restored  him.  On  the  application  of  the  Ayuntamiento, 
the  two  offices  were  afterward  combined  and  vested  in  the  same  indi 
vidual.  During  Lujan's  administration,  several  hostile  demonstrations 
were  made  against  the  Island ;  but  none  of  them  were  seriously 
prosecuted. 

The  attacks  of  a  diminutive  enemy,  the  ant,  became  so  alarming, 
however,  that  it  was  thought  necessary  by  the  Cabildo,  or  chapter  of 
the  diocese,  to  elect  a  new  patron  saint,  and  to  confer  that  dignity  on 
San  Marcial,  the  bishop  agreeing  to  celebrate  his  fiesta,  and  keep  his 
day  yearly,  on  the  condition  of  his  interceding  for  the  extermination 
of  the  hormigas  and  vivijaguas. 

Two  Famous  Fortresses. 

The  successor  of  Lujan,  Don  Juan  de  Tejada,  was  the  first  gover- 
lor  who  arrived  with  the  rank  of  captain-general,  in  which  were 
included  the  same  powers  and  jurisdiction  enjoyed  by  the  vireyes  of 
the  continental  possessions  of  the  crown.  Tejada  was  directed  to 
commence  the  construction  of  the  two  fortresses  now  known  as  the 
Morro  and  the  Punta,  and  for  this  purpose  brought  with  him  the 
Engineer  pon  Juan  Bautista  Antoneti ;  and  he  was  authorized  to 
negotiate  with  the  provinces  of  New  Spain  for  obtaining  contribu 
tions  by  which  to  support  the  garrison,  which  at  that  time  was  limited 
for  all  the  three  fortresses  to  three  hundred  men. 

After  the  building  of  the  Morro  was  begun,  it  is  said  that  Antoneti, 
having  ascended  the  heights  of  the  Cabana,  remarked  to  those  about 
him,  that  from  that  point  the  city  and  the  Morro  itself  would  be 
commanded.  This  opinion  having  been  communicated  to  the  govern 
ment,  the  construction  of  the  present  fortress  of  the  Cabanas  was 
immediately  determined  on.  During  Tejada's  government  the 
Havana  received  the  title  of  Ciudad ;\h.e  Ayuntamiento  was  increased 
to  the  number  of  twelve  regidores  ;  and  a  coat  of  arms  was  given  to 
Jt  by  Phnip  the  Second,  bearing  on  a  blue  field  three  castles  argent, 
in  allusion  to  the  Fuerza,  the  Morro,  and  the  Punta,  and  a  golden  key 


EARLY   COLONISTS   AND    RULERS. 

to  signify  that  it  was  the  key  of  the  Indies  ;  the  whole  surmounted 
by  a  crown. 

Tejada  was  succeeded  as  captain-general  in  1602  by  Don  Pedro 
Valdes,  who  made  strong  representations  to  the  court  on  the  subject 
of  the  excesses  committed  by  the  pirates,  by  whose  incursions 
Santiago  had  been  almost  depopulated.  The  bishop,  on  returning 
there  from  Bayamo  on  a  temporary  visit,  was  seized,  tied,  stripped, 
and  carried  off  by  the  pirate  Giron,  and  detained  for  eighty  days  on 
board  his  vessel,  until  he  was  ransomed  by  the  payment  of  two  hun 
dred  ducats  and  five  arrobas  of  beef  by  Don  Gregorio  Ramos*  who, 
after  rescuing  the  bishop,  succeeded  in  destroying  the  pirate. 

A  Subordinate  Governor. 

From  the  insecurity  of  Santiago,  this  bishop  attempted,  but  with 
out  success,  to  establish  his  cathedral  at  the  Havana.  The  supreme 
government,  however,  to  stay  the  progress  of  depopulation  at  San 
tiago,  resolved  on  establishing  there  a  subordinate  governor  with  the 
rank  otcapitan  de  guerra,  and  appointed  to  the  office  Don  Juan  de 
Villaverde,  the  Castillo  of  the  Morro,  who  was  charged  with  the 
defence  of  his  new  jurisdiction  against  the  pirates. 

The  successor  of  Valdes  was  Don  Gaspar  Ruiz  de  Pereda  in  1608 ; 
and  that  of  Pereda  in  1616  was  Don  Sancho  de  Alquiza.  This  last 
had  been  previously  the  Governor  of  Venezuela  and  Guiana,  and  he 
is  recorded  to  have  applied  himself  with  energy  to  the  working  of  the 
copper  mines  at  Cob  re  in  the  neighborhood  of  Santiago;  the  super 
intendence  of  which  was  for  some  time  annexed  to  the  office  of  cap 
tain-general  of  the  Havana,  although  it  was  afterward  transferred  to 
the  lieutenant-governor  at  Santiago. 

The  annual  produce  of  that  period  was  about  2000  quintals,  and 
the  copper  extracted  is  represented  to  have  been  of  a  quality  superior 
to  anything  then  known  in  the  foundries  of  Europe.  Alquiza  died 
after  having  enjoyed  his  office  only  two  years;  and  by  a  provision  of 
the  real  audiencia,  he  was  succeeded  in  the  temporary  command  by 
Geronimo  de  Quero,  the  Castillo  of  the  Morro,  whose  military 
rank  was  that  of  sargento  mayor. 


EARI.Y   COLONISTS  AND   RULERS.  265 

From  this  period  till  the  year  1715,  it  appears  that,  in  the  nomina 
tion  of  captains-general,  a  declaration  was  constantly  introduced  to 
the  effect  that  the  castellanos  of  the  Morro,  on  the  death  of  the 
captain-general,  should  succeed  to  the  military  command  of  the 
Island;  but  since  the  year  1715  an  officer  has  been  specially  named 
with  the  rank  of  teniente  rey  or  cabo-subalterno,  whose  functions  acquire 
an  active  character  only  on  the  death  or  incapacity  of  his  chief. 

Closing  the  Entrance  to  the  Harbor. 

Doctor  Damian  Velasquez  de  Contreras  succeeded  Alquiza  in 
1620,  and  Don  Lorenzo  de  Cabrera,  the  next  captain-general,  was 
appointed  to  the  command  in  1626.  A  charge  was  brought  against 
Cabrera,  that  he  had  sold  a  cargo  of  negroes  in  the  Havana  without 
a  royal  license;  which  being  backed  by  other  complaints,  the  licen< 
ciado  Don  Francisco  de  Prada  was  sent  out  to  inquire  into  them,  and 
by  him  the  captain-general  was  sent  home  to  the  Peninsula,  when  de 
Prada  assumed  the  civil  and  political  jurisdiction,  and  assigned  the 
military  command  to  Don  Cristobal  de  Aranda,  the  alcaide  of  the 
Morro.  During  the  joint  administration  of  de  Prada  and  Aranda  it 
was  resolved  to  shut  up  the  entrance  of  the  harbor  by  means  of  a 
chain  drawn  across  it,  a  resolution  which  is  described  by  the  historians 
of  the  period  as  having  been  exceedingly  extravagant  and  absurd. 

The  next  captain-general  was  Don  Juan  Bitrian  de  Viamonte,  who 
began  his  administration  in  1630,  and  projected  the  construction  of 
two  strong  towers,  the  one  in  Chorrera,  and  the  other  in  Cojimar,  but 
the  plan  was  not  carried  into  effect  until  the  year  1646.  At  this 
period  a  certain  good  woman,  known  by  the  name  of  Magdalena  de 
Jesus,  established  a  sort  of  female  sanctuary,  called  a  beaterio,  which 
gave  rise  to  the  establishment  of  the  first  female  monastery  of  Santa 
Clara. 

Fears  of  an  invasion  of  the  Island  by  the  Dutch  now  began  to  be 
entertained  in  the  Peninsula ;  and  as  Viamonte's  health  was  infirm, 
he  was  removed  to  the  presidency  of  St.  Domingo;  and,  in  1634, 
Don  Francisco  Riano  y  Gamboa  was  sent  out  to  replace  him. 
Gamboa  introduced  important  reforms  in  the  collection  of  the 


266  EARLY   COLONISTS  AND    RULERS. 

revenue.  He  established  a  court  of  accounts  at  the  Havana,  to 
which  was  afterward  referred  the  examination  of  all  public  disburse 
ments,  not  only  for  the  Island  of  Cuba,  but  for  Porto  Rico,  the 
Floridas,  and  that  portion  of  the  Spanish  navy  called  the  windward 
fleet,  la  Armada  de  Barlovcnto. 

At  first,  a  single  accountant-general  was  named;  but  a  second  was 
afterward  added,  with  instructions  to  visit  alternately  the  various 
parts  where  the  colonial  revenue  was  collected  or  disbursed.  Dur 
ing  the  government  of  Gamboa,  also,  a  commissioner  of  the  Inquisi 
tion  came  from  Carthagena  to  reside  in  the  Havana;  to  provide  for 
whose  support  one  of  the  canons  of  the  cathedral  of  Santiago  was 
suppressed.  The  bishops  had  for  some  time  acquired  a  taste  for 
residing  in  the  capital,  and  other  members  of  the  ecclesiastical 
cabildo  began  to  follow  their  example,  soon  degenerating  into  an 
abuse  which  loudly  called  for  a  remedy. 

Spanish  Possessions  in  America  Threatened. 

The  successor  of  Gamboa  was  Don  Alvaro  de  Luna  y  Sarmiento, 
who  commenced  his  administration  in  1639,  and  in  the  course  of  it 
completed  the  castle  of  Chorrera,  two  leagues  to  leeward  of  the 
Havana,  and  the  Torreon  de  Cojimar,  one  league  to  windward. 

In  1647,  Sarmiento  was  succeeded  by  Don  Diego  de  Villalva  y 
Toledo,  who,  in  1650,  was  replaced  by  Don  Francisco  Gelder.  Dur 
ing  Gelder's  administration,  the  establishment  of  the  Commonwealth 
in  England  gave  rise  to  serious  apprehensions  for  the  safety  of  the 
Spanish  possessions  in  America;  especially  when  it  became  known 
that,  in  1655,  a  squadron  had  sailed  by  order  of  the  Protector,  the 
ostensible  object  of  which  was  the  reconciliation  of  the  English  colo 
nies  to  the  new  form  of  government,  but  with  the  real  design  of  cap 
turing  Jamaica. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add,  that  this  design  was  successfully 
executed  ;  that  the  Spanish  defenders  of  Jamaica  were  dispersed,  and 
the  governor  killed,  and  that  many  of  the  inhabitants  removed  in 
consequence  to  Cuba.  An  attempt  on  the  Havana  was  also  made  by 
this  expedition,  but  the  assailants  were  successfully  resisted.  The 


EARLY   COLONISTS   AND    RULERS.  267 

failure  is  ascribed  by  the  Spaniards  to  a  sort  of  miracle  performed  in 
their  favor.  The  invaders  having  landed  on  a  very  dark  night,  they 
became  so  terrified,  according  to  the  Spanish  authorities,  by  the  noise 
of  the  landcrabs  and  the  flitting  light  of  the  fire-flies,  which  they  took 
for  an  enemy  in  ambuscade,  that  they  fled  to  their  ships  in  the 
utmost  disorder  and  confusion. 

An  Expedition  that  never  Sailed. 

The  next  captain-general  was  Don  Juan  Montano,  who  arrived  in 
1656.  During  his  time  the  Spaniards  of  Jamaica  continued  to 
defend  themselves  under  two  distinguished  hacendados,  Don  Fran 
cisco  Proenza  and  Don  Cristobal  de  Isasi ;  who,  for  their  exertions 
in  preserving  the  Island  to  the  Spanish  crown,  received  thanks  and 
honors  from  the  court.  Orders  were  also  sent  out  to  the  other 
Spanish  settlements  in  America  to  lend  their  assistance  to  the 
Jamaica  loyalists  ;  and  a  strong  expedition  was  prepared  in  the 
Peninsula,  having  the  same  object  in  view.  In  the  end,  however,  in 
consequence  of  the  sickness  which  prevailed  on  board  the  ships,  the 
expedition  never  sailed,  and  the  Spaniards  were  compelled  to  evacu 
ate  the  Island. 

Montano;  having  died  within  a  year  after  his  arrival,  was  succeeded 
in  the  command,  in  1658,  by  Don  Juan  de  Salamanca,  in  whose  time 
the  incursions  of  the  pirates  became  more  troublesome  than  ever,  on 
all  the  coasts  of  Spanish  America.  As  many  of  them  had  the  auda 
city  to  sail  under  the  flags  of  France  and  England,  the  court  of  Spain 
addressed  itself  to  these  governments  on  the  subject,  and  received  for 
answer  that,  having  no  countenance  or  authority  from  either,  the 
Spaniards  were  at  liberty  to  deal  with  them  as  they  thought  fit. 

At  this  period  th  :  French,  having  established  themselves  in  the 
island  of  Tortuga,  began  from  thence  by  slow  degrees,  first  on  hunt 
ing  parties,  and  afterward  more  permanently,  to  make  encroachments 
on  the  neighboring  coast  of  the  Island  of  St.  Domingo  ;  until,  in  the 
end,  they  had  completely  taken  possession  of  the  western  part  of  it, 
and  created  there  a  respectable  colony.  According  to  the  Spanish 
authorities,  the  French  colonists  of  St.  Domingo  formed  an  alliance 


268  EARLY   COLONISTS   AND    RULERS. 

with  the  English  in  Jamaica,  and,  without  the  sanction  of  either  of 
their  governments  in  Europe,  made  piratical  incursions  in  the  Span 
ish  territories,  and  at  length  became  so  formidable  that  the  Spaniards 
found  it  necessary  to  fortify  their  possessions,  and  to  combine 
together  for  their  mutual  protection.  The  most  remarkable  of  these 
piratical  leaders  was  the  Frenchman  Lolonois  and  the  celebrated 
Morgan. 

The  Walls  of  Havana  are  Built. 

In  1663  arrived  as  captain-general  Don  Rodrigo  de  Flores  y 
Aldana,  who  in  the  following  year  was  relieved  by  Don  Francisco 
Orejon  y  Gaston,  previously  Governor  of  Gibraltar  and  Venezuela. 
Fearing  the  neighborhood  of  the  English  in  Jamaica,  Gaston  applied 
himself  to  the  construction  of  the  walls  of  the  Havana;  and  to  meet 
the  expense  he  was  authorized  to  levy  half  a  real  on  each  quarter 
of  an  arroba  of  wine,  nearly  equal  to  a  gallon,  which  might  be  sold 
in  the  city;  but  this  having  given  rise  to  complaints,  the  Spanish 
government,  by  a  royal  cedula,  directed  that  $20,000  a  year  should 
be  raised  for  the  purpose  in  Mexico ;  and  that  as  much  more  should 
be  procured  as  the  captain-general  could  extract  by  other  means  from 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Havana. 

The  next  Governor  was  Don  Rodriguez  de  Ledesma,  who  assumed 
his  functions  in  1670,  and  prosecuted  the  work  of  fortification  with 
the  greatest  ardor.  He  also  prepared  a  naval  armament  for  the  pro 
tection  of  the  coast.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  working  of  the  cop 
per  mines  near  Santiago  was  abandoned,  and  that  the  reconstruction 
of  the  cathedral  in  that  city  was  begun ;  but  the  greater  part  of  the 
slaves  employed  in  the  mines  were  sent  to  the  Havana  to  work  on 
the  fortifications.  During  Ledesma's  administration,  a  French  party 
landed  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Island,  to  the  number  of  800,  under 
the  command  of  one  Franquinay,  with  the  intention  of  plundering  the 
city  of  Santiago,  but  they  withdrew  without  doing  any  damage, 
alarmed,  according  to  the  Spanish  accounts,  by  hearing  the  mere  cry 
of  "  al  arma." 

In  1675  the  city  of  Santiago  was  destroyed  by  an  earthquake,  a 
calamity  from  which  the  Havana  and  the  western  parts  of  the  Island 


EARLY    COLONISTS  AND   RULERS.  269 

appear  to  be  exempt.  Ledesma  complained  bitterly  to  his  govern 
ment  that  the  English  authorities  in  Jamaica  countenanced  and 
encouraged  the  attacks  of  the  pirates,  and  applied  for  leave  to  make 
reprisals.  He  was  succeeded  by  Don  Jose  Fernandez  de  Cordoba 
Ponce  de  Leon,  who  began  his  administration  in  1680,  and  continued 
the  work  of  fortification  with  energy. 

In  1687  Ponce  de  Leon  was  replaced  by  Don  Diego  de  Viana  e 
Hinojosa,  and  to  him,  in  1689,  succeeded  Don  Severino  de  Manza- 
neda  y  Salinas*  during  whose  administration  the  city  of  Matanzas 
was  founded,  the  first  lines  of  it  having  been  traced  on  the  loth  of 
October,  1693,  in  presence  of  the  captain-general,  and  many  other 
persons  of  distinction.  The  etymology  of  the  name  Matanzas  is 
much  disputed  by  the  antiquarians  of  Cuba,  some  ascribing  it  to 
the  slaughter  of  Indians  at  the  time  of  the  conquest  of  the  Island, 
contending  that  the  supposed  Indian  name  Yumuri,  that  of  one  of 
the  two  rivers  between  which  the  city  stands,  is  in  fact  a  synonym  in 
bad  Spanish  for  this  general  massacre. 

Only  One  Left  to  Tell  the  Tale. 

Others  contend,  with  equal  pertinacity,  that  it  was  the  natives  who 
killed  the  Spaniards,  while  passing  from  one  side  of  the  bay  to  the 
other,  having  mutinied  against  their  masters  and  used  their  oars  suc 
cessfully  as  weapons  of  offence.  Seven  of  the  Spaniards  are  said  to 
have  attempted  to  escape,  but  were  carried  prisoners  to  a  neighboring 
Indian  town,  where  they  were  all  put  to  death  except  one,  who 
escaped  to  tell  the  tale  of  the  Matanza. 

The  next  captain-general  was  Don  Diego  de  Cordoba  Lazo  de  la 
Vega;  to  him  in  1702  succeeded  Don  Pedro  Nicolas  Benitez  de 
Lugo,  who  died  soon  after  his  arrival.  The  next  captain-general  was 
Don  Pedro  Alvarez  de  Villarin,  who  arrived  in  1706,  and  died  the 
same  year.  After  him,  in  1708,  came  the  Marques  de  Casa  Torres, 
ex-governor  of  the  Floridas,  who,  having  had  some  dispute  with  the 
auditor  Don  Jose  Fernandez  de  Cordoba,  was  suspended  from  his 
office  by  the  real  audiencia. 

The  foundling  hospital,  or  Casa  de  Nines  Espositos*  vulgarly  called 


270  EARLY   COLONISTS  AND    RULERS. 

La  Cuna,  was  founded  in  1711  by  Don  Fray  Jeronimo  de  Valdes,  an 
institution  which  still  exists,  and,  like  that  of  St.  Pierre  in  the  Island 
of  Martinique,  is  only  resorted  to  by  the  white  inhabitants,  the  pre 
sentation  of  a  colored  infant  being  a  thing  unknown.  This  fact, 
whether  it  arise  from  the  sense  of  shame  being  stronger  in  the  white 
mother,  or  from  natural  affection  being  stronger  in  the  colored 
mother,  is  not  unworthy  of  investigation. 

Don  Vicente  Raja  arrived  as  captain-general  in  the  year  1716, 
bringing  with  him  a  royal  cedula,  declaring  that  in  the  event  of  his 
absence,  illness,  or  death,  the  civil  and  military  government  should 
be  transferred  to  the  teniente  rey ;  in  case  of  his  absence,  illness  or 
death,  to  the  castellano  del  Morro  ;  and  failing  the  castellano,  to  the 
sergeant-major  of  the  garrison ;  and  failing  him,  to  the  senior  captain 
of  infantry,  so  as  that  in  no  case  the  civil  and  military  jurisdictions 
should  ever  afterward  be  divided. 

Sent  to  Madrid  in  Chains. 

In  the  following  year  Raja  returned  to  Spain,  and  in  1718  Don 
Gregorio  Guazo  arrived  as  his  successor.  Nothing  material  occurred 
during  his  administration,  and  he  was  replaced  in  1724  by  Don 
Dionisio  Martinez  de  la  Vega.  In  his  time  a  serious  difference  arose 
on  the  occasion  of  an  appointment  to  the  office  of  lieutenant-governor 
of  Santiago.  On  the  loth  of  May,  1728,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Don 
Juan  del  Hoyo  took  possession  of  the  local  government,  and  a  few 
months  afterward  a  royal  cedilla  arrived  prohibiting  his  admission. 
On  this  the  captain-general  required  his  removal  ;  but  the  ayunta- 
miento  opposed  it,  saying  it  was  one  thing  to  remove  an  officer,  and 
another  not  to  admit  him.  Lawyers  were  consulted  on  the  point ; 
and  the  Court  of  Chancery  of  the  district  was  referred  to,  who 
decided  that  the  ayuntamiento  were  in  the  right,  and  the  captain- 
general  in  the  wrong. 

At  this  juncture  the  windward  fleet,  la  Armado  de  Barlovento,  arrived 
under  the  command  of  Don  Antonio  de  Escudero,  who,  in  his  zeal  for 
the  royal  service,  and  without  any  authority  but  that  of  force,  laid 
hold  of  Del  Hoyo,  removed  him  from  his  employment,  and  carried 


EARLY    COLONISTS   AND    RULERS.  271 

him  off  to  Vera  Cruz.  No  sooner  had  he  regained  his  liberty  than 
he  returned  to  the  Island ;  and  having  visited  the  town  of  Puerto 
Principe,  which  at  that  time  formed  part  of  his  jurisdiction,  the  peo 
pie  rose  against  him,  and  having  once  more  made  him  prisoner,  sent 
him  in  irons  to  the  Havana,  from  whence  the  captain-general  had  him 
carried  to  Madrid. 

The  next  captain-general  was  Don  Juan  Francisco  Guemes  y 
Horcasitas,  who  arrived  in  the  year  1734,  and  to  him,  in  1746,  suc 
ceeded  Don  Juan  Antonio  Tineo  y  Fuertes,  who  died  in  the  follow 
ing  year.  He  was  the  first  captain-general  who  thought  it  necessary 
to  establish  a  separate  hospital  for  the  reception  of  dissolute  and 
incorrigible  women;  for  which  purpose  the  revenues  of  vacant 
ecclesiastical  offices  were  to  be  applied. 

Capture  of  the  City  by  the  English. 

The  date  of  the  termination  of  the  government  of  Martinez  has 
not  been  very  clearly  defined  ;  he  was  succeeded  provisionally  by 
Don  Diego  de  Penalosa,  as  teniente  rey  de  la  plaza,  and  was  replaced 
in  1747  by  Don  Francisco  Cagigal  de  la  Vega,  who  had  previously 
been  lieutenant-governor  at  Santiago.  On  leaving  the  command  in 
1760,  the  government  was  assumed  provisionally  by  the  Teniente 
Rey  Don  Pedro  Alonzo;  and  he  was  relieved,  in  1761,  by  Don  Juan 
de  Prado  Porto  Carrero,  whose  government  was  made  so  memorable 
by  the  capture- of  the  city  by  the  English. 

The  Habaneros  themselves  seemed  desirous  to  commemorate  the 
event  by  retaining  English  names  for  the  points  of  the  coast  where 
the  landing  of  the  expedition  was  effected,  and  for  the  fortresses  which 
were  occupied  preparatory  to  the  descent  on  the  Morro.  In  the 
Memorias  de  la  Real  Sociedad  Patriotica  there  are  also  some  interest 
ing  notices  of  the  event. 

The  captain-general,  according  to  some  accounts,  was  apprised  of 
the  fact  that  the  English  were  preparing  an  expedition  for  the  inva 
sion  of  the  Island ;  but  although  he  had  made  certain  arrangements 
for  the  reception  of  the  enemy,  it  is  said  that  he  never  seriously 
believed  that  an  invasion  was  about  to  take  place.  He  made  it  his 


272  EARLY   COLONISTS   AND   RULERS. 

business,  however,  to  ascertain  what  number  of  men  might  be  relied 
on  for  the  defence  of  the  Island;  and  even  the  proportion  of  slaves  to 
whom  arms  might  be  safely  intrusted.  Juntas  were  frequently 
assembled  for  the  discussion  of  these  matters  during  the  three  months 
which  intervened  between  the  first  rumor  of  the  invasion  and  the 
actual  descent  of  the  enemy. 

At  length,  on  the  6th  of  June,  1762,  when  a  fleet  of  at  least  250 


OLD   CATHEDRAL  AT   HAVANA. 


sail  had  been  reported  as  off  the  coast,  the  captain-general  still  refused 
to  believe  that  this  was  the  hostile  expedition ;  insisting  that  it  must 
be  a  homeward-bound  convoy  from  Jamaica  On  the  morning  of 
that  day  he  is  said  to  have  gone  over  to  the  Morro  for  the  purpose 
of  observing  in  person  the  movements  of  the  fleet ;  and  when  he  found 
that  the  garrison  of  the  fortress  had  been  called  out  under  arms  by 
the  teniente  rey,  Don  Dionisio  Soler,  he  expressed  his  disapprobation 
of  the  proceeding — declaring  it  to  be  imprudent,  and  desiring  that  the 
troops  might  be  sent  back  to  their  quarters.  After  mid- day,  however, 
he  received  notice  from  the  Morro  that  the  ships  of  war  were  approach 
ing  the  coast,  and  appeared  from  their  manoeuvres  to  be  preparing  to 
effect  a  landing. 


EARLY   COLONISTS  AND   RULERS.  273 

Confounded  by  his  own  previous  incredulity,  the  governor  at  length 
gave  orders  to  prepare  for  a  vigorous  defence.  The  consternation 
produced  by  the  ringing  of  alarm  bells  and  the  moving  of  artillery 
was  extreme.  Such  of  the  inhabitants  as  possessed  arms  made  haste 
to  put  them  in  order,  and  those  who  were  not  so  provided  presented 
themselves  at  thesata  real  to  ask  for  them  ;  but  there  were  only  3,500 
muskets  to  be  found,  the  greater  part  of  them  unfit  for  service, 
together  with  a  few  carbines,  sabres,  and  bayonets.  These  were  soon 
distributed  ;  but  in  the  end  a  great  number  of  people  remained  un 
armed  for  the  want  of  needful  supplies. 

A  Formidable  Expedition. 

The  juntas  were  again  assembled,  consisting  of  the  captain-general, 
the  teniente  rey,  the  marques  del  real  transporte,  general  of  marines, 
and  the  commissary-general,  Don  Lorenzo  Montalvo,  to  whom  were 
added  the  Conde  de  Superunda,  as  viceroy  of  Peru,  and  Major-General 
Don  Diego  Tabares,  as  Governor  of  Carthagena,  who  happened  to  be 
then  at  the  Havana  on  their  return  to  Europe.  Orders  were  issued 
by  this  junta  to  Colonel  Don  Carlos  Caro  to  resist  the  landing  of  the 
enemy  on  the  beach  of  Cogimar  and  Bacuranao,  which  they  seemed 
to  threaten ;  adding  to  his  own  regiment,  De  Edimburgo,  the  rest  of 
the  cavalry  then  in  the  city,  together  with  several  companies  of  the 
infantry  of  the  line,  and  a  few  lancers,  amounting  altogether  to  about 
3,000  men. 

The  expedition  sailed  from  Spithead  on  the  5th  of  March,  1762. 
Its  chief  object  was,  after  seizing  on  the  French  possessions  in  the 
West  Indies,  to  make  a  descent  on  the  Havana,  which  was  justly  con 
sidered  as  the  principal  key  to  the  vast  possessions  of  the  Spanish 
crown  in  the  two  great  divisions  of  the  American  continent ;  the  pos 
session  of  which  would  effectually  interrupt  all  communication  be 
tween  the  Peninsula  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  thereby  give  the 
court  of  the  Catholic  king  a  distaste  for  the  alliance  with  that  of  St. 
Cloud.  The  first  rendezvous  of  the  forces  to  be  combined  with  the 
original  expedition  was  at  Martinique,  and  Sir  James  Douglas  was 

ordered  to  unite  his  squadron,  stationed  at  Port  Royal,  Jamaica,  with 

18  *• 


274  EARLY   COLONISTS   AND    RULERS. 

that  of  Sir  George  Pocock,  at  the  Cape  of  St.  Nicholas,  in  the  Island 
of  St.  Domingo. 

From  this  point  of  union  the  expedition  had  the  choice  of  two 
courses  in  proceeding  toward  the  Havana.  That  which  would  have 
been  the  more  easy  of  execution  was  to  sail  down  the  southern 
side  of  the  Island,  and  doubling  the  western  cape,  present  itself  before 
the  Havana.  But  as  this  would  have  occupied  more  time,  which  the 
maintenance  of  secrecy  rendered  valuable,  Sir  George  Pocock  re 
solved  on  following  the  shorter  and  more  difficult  as  well  as  danger 
ous  course  of  the  old  Bahama  channel,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Island.  This  resolution  had  the  double  effect  of  taking  the  enemy 
unprepared,  and  of  obstructing  the  only  course  by  which  the  French 
could  send  relief  from  St.  Domingo. 

On  the  2/th  of  May  the  admiral  hoisted  his  flag,  and  the  whole 
convoys,  consisting  of  200  vessels  of  all  classes,  were  soon  under 
sail  for  the  old  Bahama  passage.  The  "  Alarm  "  and  "  Echo  "  frigates, 
sent  in  advance,  discovered,  on  the  2d  of  June,  five  ships  of  the  enemy, 
the  frigate  "  Tetis,"  the  sloop  of  war  "  Fenix,"  a  J^rig,  and  two  smaller 
vessels.  An  engagement  immediately  took  place,  in  the  issue  of 
which  one  of  the  light  vessels  escaped,  the  other  four  being  captured. 

On  the  evening  of  the  5th  the  "  Pan  "  of  Matanzas  was  visible  ;  and 
on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  being  then  five  leagues  to  the  eastward  of 
the  Havana,  the  necessary  orders  were  issued  for  the  commanders  of 
the  boats  of  the  squadron  and  the  captains  of  the  transports,  with 
regard  to  the  debarkation  of  the  troops.  This  duty  was  intrusted 
to  the  Honorable  Commodore  Keppel,  at  whose  disposal  were  placed 
six  ships  of  the  line,  several  frigates,  and  the  large  boats  of  the 
squadron.  The  admiral  followed  at  two  in  the  afternoon,  with  thir 
teen  ships  of  the  line,  two  frigates,  the  bomb  vessels  of  the  expedi 
tion,  and  thirty-six  store-boats.  On  presenting  himself  at  the  mouth 
of  the  harbor,  for  the  double  purpose  of  reconnoitering  the  enemy 
and  making  the  feint  of  an  attack  to  cover  the  operations  of  Commo 
dore  Keppel,  he  ascertained  that  twelve  ships  of  the  line  and  a  num 
ber  of  merchant  vessels  were  lying  at  anchor  within  it. 

On  the  following  morning  the  admiral  prepared  his  launches  for 


EARLY    COLONISTS   AND    RULERS.  275 

landing  a  body  of  sailors  and  marines  about  four  miles  to  the  west 
ward  of  the  Havana.  At  the  same  time  Lord  Albemarle  effected  the 
landing  of  the  whole  of  the  troops,  without  opposition,  between  the 
rivers  Bacuranao  and  Cogimar,  about  six  miles  from  the  Morr ).  A 
body  of  men  having  appeared  on  the  beach,  Commodore  Keppel 
directed  the  "  Mercury  "  and  "  Bonnetta  "  corvettes  to  disperse  them  ; 
but  a  much  greater  number  having  soon  afterward  presented  them 
selves  with  the  evident  intention  of  disputing  the  passage  of  the  Rio 
Cogimar  with  the  main  body  of  the  expedition,  Captain  Hervey  in  the 
"  Dragon  "  was  sent  to  bombard  the  fort,  which  afforded  the  enemy 
protection,  but  which  very  soon  surrendered,  leaving  a  free  passage 
for  the  advance  of  the  invaders. 

Resistance  to  the  Invasion. 

From  the  prisoners  taken  on  the  2d  of  June  in  the  "  Tetis  "  and 
"  Fenix,"  the  presence  of  a  naval  force  in  the  harbor  became  known 
to  the  English,  together  with  the  fact  that  most  of  the  enemy's  ships 
had  completed  their  supplies  of  water,  and  were  nearly  ready  for  sea. 
Till  then  the  governor,  as  has  been  stated,  was  almost  wholly  unpre 
pared.  The  first  notice  he  had  of  the  actual  approach  of  the  expe 
dition  was  obtained  from  the  crew  of  the  small  schooner,  which 
escaped  from  the  pursuit  of  the  "  Alarm  "  and  the  "  Echo." 

As  soon  as  he  became  convinced  of  the  fact,  the  governor,  as  we 
have  seen,  assembled  a  council  of  war,  composed  of  the  chief  officers 
under  his  command.  At  this  junta  de  guerra  the  plan  of  defence 
was  arranged,  and  a  firm  resolution  was  taken  to  resist  the  invasion 
to  the  last  extremity.  The  defence  of  the  Morro,  on  the  possession 
of  which  the  fate  of  the  Havana  in  a  great  measure  depended,  was 
intrusted  to  Don  Luis  de  Valesco,  commander  of  the  "  Reyna  "  ship 
of  the  line,  to  whose  gallantry  and  perseverance  Sir  George  Pocock,  in 
his  subsequent  report  to  the  admiralty,  pays  a  just  tribute  of  com 
mendation.  His  second  in  command,  the  Marques  de  Gonzales, 
commander  of  the  "  Aquilon  "  ship  of  the  line,  followed  in  all  respects 
the  example  of  Valesco,  dying  sword  in  hand  in  defence  of  his  flag. 

The  defence  of  the  Punta  Castle  was  in  like  manner  assigned  to  a 


276  EARLY  COLONISTS  AND   RULERS. 

naval  officer,  Don  Manuel  Briseno,  who  had  a  friend  in  the  same 
branch  of  the  service  for  his  second  in  command.  This  arrangement 
gave  deadly  offence  to  the  officers  of  the  army,  who  thought  them 
selves  unjustly  superseded  in  the  post  of  honor  and  of  danger;  but 
it  was  urged  in  excuse,  that  naval  officers  were  better  acquainted  than 
those  of  the  infantry  or  the  cavalry  with  the  use  of  artillery ;  and  as 
the  naval  squadron  had  become  useless  by  being  locked  up  in  the 
harbor,  this  was  the  only  way  in  which  they  could  be  advantageously 
employed. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 
War  with  Great  Britain. 

BEFORE  the  Governor  could  assemble  the  militia  of  the  Island 
under  arms,  he  thought  it  necessary  to  declare  war  by  procla 
mation  against  Great  Britain.  When  his  whole  force  was  at 
length  assembled,  it  was  found  in  gross  numbers  greatly  to  exceed 
that  of  the  invaders.  It  consisted  of  nine  squadrons  of  cavalry,  in 
cluding  in  all  810  men;  the  regiment  of  the  Havana,  700;  two  bat 
talions  of  the  regiment  de  Espana,  1400;  two  battalions  of  the 
regiment  de  Aragon,  1400;  three  companies  of  artillery,  300;  seamen 
and  marines  of  the  squadron,  9000;  militia  and  people  of  color, 
14,000 — making  a  grand  total  of  27,610. 

The  greater  part  of  the  Spanish  force  was  stationed  in  the  town 
of  Guanabacao,  on  the  side  of  the  bay  opposite  to  the  Havana,  be 
tween  the  points  where  the  invading  forces  had  landed,  in  order  to 
prevent  them  from  turning  the  head  of  the  harbor  and  attacking  the 
city  by  land.  The  British  force  was  divided  into  five  brigades, 
amounting,  with  detachments  from  Jamaica  and  North  America,  to  a 
total  of  14,041  land  forces.  At  daybreak,  on  the  /th,  the  troops 
were  already  on  board  the  boats  arranged  in  three  divisions — the 
centre  commanded  by  the  Honorable  Augustus  Hervey ;  the  right 
wing  by  Captains  Barton  and  Drake ;  and  the  left,  by  Captains 
Arbuthnot  and  Jekyl. 

The  first  brigade  was  also  the  first  to  land ;  and  as  soon  as  the 
troops  had  formed  on  the  beach,  Lord  Albemarle  took  the  com 
mand,  and  marched  in  the  direction  of  the  city,  which  he  did  without 
further  molestation  as  soon  as  the  Cogimar  batteries  had  been 
silenced.  His  Excellency  established  his  headquarters  in  Cogimar 
for  the  night ;  the  troops  were  served  with  rations  under  arms,  and 
several  pickets  were  advanced  to  the  eminences  overlooking  the 

-  ~  877 


278  WAR  WITH    GREAT   BRITAIN. 

Havana.  After  a  succession  of  attacks  on  the  part  of  Lord  Albe- 
marle,  and  a  continued  bombardment  of  the  castle,  the  Morro  sur 
rendered  on  the  3Oth  of  July,  and  the  town  itself  on  the  I4th  of 
August,  succeeding. 

The  spoils  seized  by  the  captors  were  of  great  value,  and  the  dis 
tribution  was  a  subject  of  much  discontent ;  and  it  must  be  admitted 
that  the  partition,  which  gave  three  or  four  pounds  to  a  soldier  or  a 
sailor,  whose  life  was  equally  exposed  with  that  of  his  superiors,  and 
ioo,ooo/.  to  an  admiral  or  a  commander-in-chief,  was  far  from  being 
impartial. 

Arrival  of  Troops. 

The  peace  having  been  concluded  in  1763,  the  Conde  de  Ricla 
arrived  at  the  Havana  on  the  3Oth  of  June,  bringing  the  powers  con 
ferred  by  the  treaty  for  the  restoration  of  the  British  conquests  in  the 
Island  of  .Cuba,  and  accompanied  by  General  O'Reilly,  with  four 
ships  of  the  line,  a  number  of  transports,  and  2000  men  for  the 
supply  of  the  garrison.  On  their  arrival  they  were  received  by  the 
English  with  every  demonstration  of  respect.  On  the  7th  of  July 
the  keys  of  the  city  were  formally  delivered  up  to  the  Conde  de 
Ricla,  on  whom  the  government  had  been  conferred,  and  the  English 
garrison  was  embarked  on  its  return  to  Europe. 

The  restoration  of  the  Island  to  the  Spaniards  is  regarded  by  the 
native  writers  as  the  true  era  from  whence  its  aggrandizement  and 
prosperity  are  to  be  dated.  It  was  during  the  administration  of  the 
first  governor  that  the  new  fortresses  of  San  Carlos  and  Atares  were 
erected,  and  the  enlargement  and  rebuilding  of  the  Morro  and  the 
Cabanas  were  begun.  The  old  hospitals  were  placed  on  a  better 
footing,  and  new  ones  were  built.  The  court  of  accounts,  and  the  whole 
department  of  finance,  received  a  fresh  impulse  and  a  distinct  form; 
and  an  intendant  was  named,  who,  among  other  arrangements,  for 
the  first  time  established  the  aduana,  and  created  a  custom-house 
revenue,  the  duties  having  been  first  levied  on  the  1 5th  of  October, 
1764. 

The  Conde  de  O'Reilly,  as  inspector- general  of  the  army,  succeeded 
in  organizing  and  placing  on  a  respectable  footing  the  regular  troops, 


WAR  WITH   GREAT  BRITAIN.  279 

as  well  as  the  militia  of  the  Island.  The  city  of  the  Havana  having 
been  divided  into  districts,  the  streets  named,  and  the  houses  num 
bered,  the  truth  came  to  be  known,  that  the  capital  contained 
materials  for  the  formation  of  a  battalion  of  disciplined  white  militia. 
Beginning  with  the  formation  of  a  single  company,  the  governor 
appointed  lieutenants,  sergeants,  and  corporals  from  the  regular  troops 
of  the  garrison,  and,  after  a  personal  inspection,  he  followed  the  same 
course  with  the  other  companies. 

New  Battalions  are  Formed. 

Adopting  this  principle  in  the  other  towns  of  the  Island,  he  soon 
succeeded  in  realizing  his  ideas,  and  creating  a  considerable  force  on 
which  the  government  had  every  reason  to  rely.  When  the  two 
white  battalions  of  the  Havana  and  Guanabacoa  were  completed,  it 
was  still  found  that,  with  the  addition  of  the  stationary  regiment  of 
regulars  and  the  other  troops  of  the  garrison,  there  would  not  be  a 
sufficient  force  for  the  defence  of  the  capital,  so  that  the  idea  of 
forming  two  other  battalions  presented  itself,  the  one  of  blacks,  the 
other  of  people  of  color,  and  was  immediately  carried  into  effect. 

Don  Diego  Manrique  assumed  the  supreme  command  in  1765,  but 
died  within  a  few  months  after  his  arrival.  He  was  succeeded  in 
1766  by  Don  Antonio  Maria  Bucarelli,  who  prosecuted  with  energy 
the  construction  of  the  fortifications  begun  by  the  Conde  de  Ricla. 
Bucarely  paid  great  attention  to  the  due  administration  of  justice,  and 
was  distinguished  by  the  affability  of  his  manners,  the  facility  he 
afforded  of  access  to  his  person,  and  the  readiness  with  which  he 
heard  and  redressed  the  grievances  of  the  people;  making  it  a  boast 
that  he  had  succeeded  in  adjusting  differences  and  compromising 
law  suits  which  had  been  pending  for  forty  years. 

When  afterward  appointed  viceroy  of  New  Spain,  the  minister  for 
the  department  of  the  Indies  announced  to  him,  by  command  of  the 
king,  as  an  unexampled  occurrence,  that  during  the  whole  period  of 
his  administration  not  a  single  complaint  against  him  had  reached 
the  court  of  Madrid.  Another  of  his  merits  with  the  people  was  the 
gentleness  and  address  with  which  he  effected  the  expulsion  of  the 


280  WAR  WITH    GREAT   BRITAIN. 

Jesuits,  who  had  come  to  the  Island  with  Don  Pedro  Agustin  Morel, 
and  had  acquired  there  large  possessions.  The  church  attached  to 
their  seminary  is  that  which  is  now  the  cathedral  of  the  Havana. 

On  the  promotion  of  Bucarelli  in  1771,  the  Marques  de  la  Torre 
was  named  his  successor,  and  became  one  of  the  most  popular 
captains-general  who  have  ever  administered  the  government.  He 
was  replaced  in  1777  by  Don  Diego  Jose  Navarro,  who  introduced 
great  improvements  in  the  administration  of  justice,  and  the  police 
of  the  tribunals,  and  in  regulating  the  duties  and  functions  of  the 
abogados,  escribanos,  procuradores,  tasadores,  and  other  officers  and 
dependents  of  the  courts  of  law,  in  which  the  greatest  abuses  had 
previously  and  have  since  prevailed. 

Attempt  to  Recover  the  Floridas. 

The  base  and  deteriorated  coin,  which  had  been  for  some  time  in 
circulation,  was  also  called  in  and  abolished  in  the  time  of  Navarro. 
In  the  course  of  the  war  which  had  again  broken  out  between 
England  and  Spain,  an  expedition  was  prepared  at  the  Havana  for 
the  recovery  of  the  Floridas,  which  produced  the  surrender  of  Pen- 
sacola,  and  the  submission  of  the  garrison.  This  gave  rise  to  a 
belief  that  the  English  would  make  reprisals  on  Cuba  or  Porto  Rico, 
and  led  to  the  dispatch  of  reinforcements  on  a  large  scale  to  the  gar 
rison  of  the  Havana. 

The  peace  of  1783  soon  followed,  on  which  Lord  Rodney  prepared 
to  return  to  England;  and  taking  the  Havana  in  his  way,  Prince 
William  Henry,  afterward  William  IV.,  having  obtained  leave  from 
the  admiral  to  go  on  shore,  was  so  delighted  with  the  city  and  the 
entertainments  that  were  offered  him,  that  he  remained  there  three 
days,  and  did  not  return,  if  we  may  believe  the  Spanish  writers,  until 
Lord  Rodney  sent  to  his  royal  highness  to  say,  that  if  he  did  not  re- 
embark  immediately,  the  squadron  would  set  sail,  and  leave  him 
behind.  The  Spanish  general  of  marines,  Solano,  is  said  to  have 
given  the  prince  a  breakfast  which  cost  him  $4000. 

During  the  years  which  immediately  succeeded  the  peace  there 
appear  to  have  been  other  changes  in  the  colonial  government  besides 


WAR  WITH   GREAT   BRITAIN.  281 

those  already  noticed,  beginning  with  Don  Luis  Gonzaga,  followed  by 
the  Conde  de  Galves,  Don  Bernardo  Troncoso,  Don  Jose  Espeleta, 
and  Don  Domingo  Ceballo.  In  the  time  of  this  first  Espeleta  there 
was  again  a  great  outcry  as  to  the  number  of  lawyers  in  the  colony, 
and  particularly  at  the  Havana,  where  there  were  already  no  less 
than  eighty-five  abogados,  with  an  equally  liberal  proportion  of  the 
inferior  classes  of  the  profession. 

Steps  were  taken  to  prevent  their  increase,  and  a  regulation  was 
enforced  on  the  iQth  of  November,  1784,  prohibiting  the  admission 
of  candidates  and  the  immigration  of  professors  of  jurisprudence  from 
the  other  colonies ;  and  no  lawyer  who  had  studied  his  profession  in 
Spain  was  to  be  allowed  to  practice  it  in  the  courts  of  the  Island 
until  six  years  at  least  after  he  had  been  called  to  the  bar  in  the 
Peninsula. 

Brilliant  Epoch,  in  Cuba's  History. 

Don  Luis  de  las  Casas  arrived  as  captain-general  in  1790,  and  the 
period  of  his  administration  is  represented  by  all  Spanish  writers  as 
a  brilliant  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  Island.  To  him  it  is  indebted 
for  the  institution  of  the  Sociedad  Patriotica,  which  has  ever  since 
done  so  much  to  stimulate  the  activity  and  promote  the  improvement 
of  education,  agriculture,  and  trade,  as  well  as  literature,  science,  and 
the  fine  arts,  combined  with  large  and  liberal  views  of  public  policy. 
To  Las  Casas,  also,  is  the  Island  indebted  for  the  establishment  of 
the  Casa  de  Beneficenda,  having  been  begun  by  a  voluntary  subscrip 
tion  amounting  to  $36,000.  The  female  department  was  at  first  a 
separate  institution,  situated  in  the  extra-mural  portion  of  the  city, 
but  was  added  to  the  other  on  the  completion  of  the  buildings  in 
1794. 

In  place  of  a  monument  to  Las  Casas,  which  he  undoubtedly 
deserved  as  much  as  any  of  his  predecessors,  an  inscription  has  been 
conspicuously  engraved  in  the  common  hall  of  the  school  for  boys, 
declaring  that  on  its  erection  it  had  been  expressly  dedicated  to  the 
memory  of  the  founder  of  the  institution  ;  reminding  the  young 
pupils  that  he  had  not  only  been  the  founder  of  the  Casa  de  Bene- 
ficencia,  but  of  the  first  public  library,  and  the  first  newspaper  which 


282  WAR   WITH    GREAT   BRITAIN. 

had  existed  in  the  Island,  and  of  the  patriotic  and  economical  society. 
To  increase  the  commercial  prosperity  of  the  Island  he  had  the 
sagacity  to  perceive  that  his  object  could  not  be  better  accomplished 
than  by  removing,  as  far  as  his  authority  extended,  all  the  trammels 
imposed  upon  it  by  the  old  system  of  privilege  and  restriction. 
During  his  administration,  also,  large  sums  were  expended  in  the 
construction  of  roads,  especially  the  great  Calzada  del  Horcon  and 
the  Calzada  de  Guadalupe;  but  since  then  these  highways  have 
fallen  so  completely  out  of  repair,  as  for  the  greater  part  of  the  year 
to  have  become  next  to  impassable. 

The  Island  Desolated  by  a  Hurricane. 

It  was  Las  Casas,  also,  who  introduced  the  culture  of  indigo ;  and 
during  his  time  the  long  arrear  of  causes  on  the  rolls  of  the  courts 
of  justice  was  greatly  reduced.  The  hurricane,  which  desolated  the 
Island  on  the  2ist  and  22d  of  June,  1/91,  afforded  Las  Casas  a  fresh 
opportunity  for  displaying  the  great  resources  of  his  mind  in  the 
promptitude  with  which  he  brought  relief  to  the  sufferers.  In  some 
districts  the  sudden  rise  of  water  in  the  rivers  was  most  extraordinary, 
when  the  limited  extent  of  land  from  sea  to  sea  is  considered. 

On  the  bridge  then  just  finished  across  the  Rio  del  Calabazal  the 
water  rose  to  the  height  of  thirty-six  feet  above  the  parapets  ;  and  in 
the  town  of  San  Antonio,  where  the  wells  are  sunk  into  the  bed  of 
a  subterraneous  river,  the  water  rushed  up  through  the  artificial 
openings,  and  inundated  the  whole  country. 

The  French  Revolution  having  communicated  its  irresistible  impulse 
to  the  western  parts  of  St.  Domingo,  the  cabinet  of  Madrid  took  the 
alarm,  and  from  the  Havana  and  Santiago,  Vera  Cruz,  the  Caracas, 
Maracaybo,  and  Porto  Rico,  collected  a  force  amounting  altogether 
to  6000  men,  the  object  of  which  was  to  suppress  the  insurrection. 
The  sanguinary  struggle  which  ensued,  and  the  reverses  which  befell 
the  Spanish  troops,  belong  to  another  place.  Suffice  it  here  to  say, 
by  way  of  memorandum,  that  the  interest  of  the  Spanish  Government 
in  the  Island  of  St.  Domingo  was  definitely  terminated  by  the  treaty 
of  Basilea  soon  afterward  concluded  with  the  French  republic. 


WAR  WITH   GREAT  BRITAIN.  28£ 

It  was  to  the  energetic  measures  of  Las  Casas,  at  the  time  of  this 
revolution  in  St.  Domingo,  that  the  Island  of  Cuba  was  indebted  for 
the  uninterrupted  maintenance  of  its  tranquillity,  in  spite  of  the  univer- 
sal  persuasion  that  a  conspiracy  had  been  formed  at  the  instigation 
of  the  French,  among  the  free  people  of  color,  to  provoke  a  similar 
revolution  in  Cuba. 

Important  Changes  and  Benefits. 

On  the  occasion  of  his  leaving  the  Island  in  December,  1796,  a 
formal  eulogium  on  his  merits  as  Captain-General  was  recorded  in 
the  archives  of  the  Ayuntamiento  of  the  Havana,  in  which  are 
enumerated  the  great  benefits  he  had  conferred  on  the  community ; 
among  which  the  most  prominent  are  the  discouragement  of  gam 
bling;  the  arrest  of  vagrants  and  vagabonds ;  the  clearing  of  the  jails 
of  greater  criminals,  and  the  acceleration  of  the  ends  of  justice  in 
civil  causes ;  the  abandonment  of  a  large  portion  of  his  own  emolu 
ments  for  the  erection  and  support  of  the  Casa  de  Beneficencia  and 
other  charitable  institutions ;  the  reduction  and  pacification  of  the 
maroons  of  Santiago ;  the  suppression  of  the  conspiracy  among  the 
people  of  color;  the  prohibition  of  the  introduction  of  foreign  negroes 
who  had  previously  resided  in  other  colonies,  and  the  expulsion  of 
those  who  had  arrived  from  St.  Domingo ;  the  relief  of  the  inhabi 
tants  from  the  clothing  of  the  militia  ;  the  paving  of  the  streets  of  the 
Havana ;  the  making  and  mending  of  roads  ;  the  building  of  bridges, 
and  the  construction  of  public  walks  and  alamedas ;  the  erection  of 
a  convent,  a  coliseum,  a  primary  school,  a  school  of  chemistry,  natu 
ral  philosophy,  mathematics  and  botany ;  the  improvement  of  the 
Plaza  de  Toros,  and  the  rejection  of  the  profit  which  his  predecessors 
had  derived  from  the  supply  of  provisions  for  the  troops. 

In  this  farewell  eulogium  he  is  also  praised  for  the  very  question 
able  virtue  of  promoting  the  general  prosperity  by  the  copious  intro 
duction  of  Bozal  negroes  from  the  coast  of  Africa,  which  is  stated  to 
have  greatly  extended  the  cultivation  of  the  sugar-cane,  the  bread 
fruit  tree,  the  cinnamon-tree,  and  other  exotic  plants  of  inestimable 
value.  It  is  more  easy  to  sympathize  in  the  praise?  bestowed  upon 


284  WAR   WITH    GREAT   BRITAIN. 

him  for  the  great  hospitality  he  showed  to  the  unfortunate  refugees 
from  St.  Domingo,  and  for  the  exertions  he  made  and  the  liberality 
he  evinced  in  the  institution  of  the  Patriotic  Society,  the  formation 
of  a  public  library,  the  publication  of  the  Diario,  and  of  the  Guia  de 
For  aster o$. 

Las  Casas,  in  1796,  was  succeeded  in  the  government  by  the  Conde 
de  Santa  Clara,  whose  noble  and  generous  disposition,  and  the  affa 
bility  of  his  manners,  made  the  loss  of  his  predecessor  less  sensibly 
feit.  It  is  admitted,  however,  that  he  gave  no  encouragement  to 
education,  that  he  had  no  taste  for  letters,  and  that  in  his  time  the 
social  emulation  which  had  previously  prevailed  sunk  rapidly  into 
apathy  and  indifference. 

A  People  of  Dilatory  Habits. 

It  is  a  singular  illustration  of  the  dilatory  habits  of  the  people, 
and  affords  a  sort  of  national  characteristic,  that  for  many  years  after 
the  formal  cession  to  the  French  of  all  interest  in  St.  Domingo,  the 
judges  who  exercised  the  supreme  civil  jurisdiction  over  the  Island 
of  Cuba  and  other  Spanish  settlements  continued  to  reside  in  the 
ceded  territory,  so  that,  in  consequence  of  the  recommencement  of 
hostilities  with  England,  all  communication  by  sea  was  so  interrupted 
as  to  interpose  an  insurmountable  barrier  to  the  exercise  of  the  right 
of  appeal,  and  to  the  ordinary  administration  of  justice.  The  royal 
cedula,  for  the  removal  of  this  tribunal  to  Puerto  Principe,  is  dated 
on  the  22d  of  May,  1797  ;  but  it  does  not  appear  at  what  precise  date 
the  actual  translation  took  place. 

Santa  Clara  was  succeeded,  in  1799,  by  the  Marques  de  Someruelos, 
whose  administration  continued  for  a  much  longer  period  than  the 
five  years  to  which,  by  the  practice,  if  not  by  a  formal  regulation  cf 
the  Spanish  government,  the  term  of  service  of  the  captains-general 
of  the  colonies  has  been  usually  limited.  The  public  works  which 
serve  to  commemorate  the  administration  of  Someruelos  are  the  old 
theatre  and  the  public  cemetery ;  the  execution  of  which  last  was 
confided  to  the  bishop,  who  pursued  the  object  with  zeal,  and  the 
work  was  completed  on  the  2d  of  February,  1806. 


WAR  WITH   GREAT  BRITAIN.  285 

Its  extent  is  not  great,  containing  only  22,000  square  yards  ;  but 
the  walls,  the  chapel,  and  the  gateway,  are  on  a  scale  which  infers 
the  outlay  of  a  large  sum  of  money.  The  chapel  is  ornamented  with 
a  painting  in  fresco  representing  the  Resurrection,  with  the  motto, 
tl  Ecce  nunc  in  pulvere  dormiam."  Someruelos  was  thought  by  some 
to  be  stern  and  severe  toward  the  poorer  classes  of  society,  and  to 
reserve  all  his  affability  and  condescension  for  the  rich.  On  the 
occasion,  however,  of  the  great  fire  of  1802,  which  destroyed  the 
populous  suburb  of  Jesus  Maria,  leaving  no  less  than  11,300  indivi 
duals  without  a  i  oof  to  shelter  them,  the  Marques,  moved  by  their 
distress,  circumambulated  the  town,  going  actually  from  door  to  door 
to  petition  for  their  relief. 

Prospect  of  Another  Invasion. 

The  belief  again  gained  ground  at  the  Havana,  in  1807,  that  the 
English  government  contemplated  a  descent  on  the  Island;  and 
measures  were  taken  in  consequence  to  put  it  in  a  more  respectable 
state  of  defence,  although,  from  want  of  funds  in  the  treasury,  and 
the  scarcity  of  indispensable  supplies,  the  prospect  of  an  invasion  was 
sufficiently  gloomy.  The  militia  and  the  troops  of  the  garrison  were 
carefully  drilled,  and  companies  of  volunteers  were  formed  wherever 
materials  for  them  could  be  found.  The  French,  also,  not  content 
with  mere  preparations,  made  an  actual  descent  on  the  Island,  first 
threatening  Santiago,  and  afterward  landing  at  Batabano. 

The  invaders  consisted  chiefly  of  refugees  from  St.  Domingo ;  and 
their  intention  seems  to  have  been  to  have  taken  possession  with  a 
view  to  colonize  and  cultivate  a  portion  of  the  unappropriated,  or  at 
least  unoccupied,  territory  on  the  south  side  of  the  Island,  as  their 
countrymen  had  formerly  done  in  St.  Domingo.  Without  recurring 
to  actual  force,  the  captain-general  prevailed  on  them  to  take  their 
departure  by  a  peaceful  offer  of  the  means  of  transit  either  to  St. 
Domingo  or  to  France. 

The  news  of  the  abduction,  by  Napoleon,  of  the  royal  family  of 
Spain  reached  the  Havana  by  a  private  opportunity,  at  the  moment 
when  the  cabildo  was  in  session,  when  every  member  of  it  took  a 


286  WAR  WITH   GREAT  BRITAIN. 

solemn  oath  to  preserve  the  Island  for  its  lawful  sovereign.  The 
official  intelligence  did  not  reach  the  city  till  the  i/th  of  July,  1808; 
when  it  was  brought  from  Cadiz  by  the  Intendant  Don  Juan  de 
Aguilar  y  Amat,  who  arrived  in  the  American  ship  "  Dispatch." 
The  colonial  government  immediately  declared  war  against  Napo 
leon  ;  and  on  the  2Oth,  King  Ferdinand  VII.  was  proclaimed  with 
general  applause.  The  intelligence  from  Spain  and  the  resolution  of 
the  captain-general  were  immediately  communicated  to  all  the  colo 
nial  authorities  in  Spanish  America. 

Pretensions  Firmly  Resisted. 

The  events  in  the  Peninsula  soon  began  to  be  felt  at  the  Havana ; 
but  the  demands  of  the  French  intruders  for  the  recognition  of  their 
authority  were  disregarded,  and  the  public  dispatches  which  came 
from  them  were  destroyed.  The  Infanta  Dona  Carlota  made  similar 
pretensions,  but  these,  like  those  of  the  French,  were  firmly  resisted. 

The  foreign  trade  of  the  Island  was  reduced  to  such  an  extremity 
by  the  events  of  the  war,  that  the  local  authorities  of  the  Havana,  the 
ayuntamiento,  and  the  consulado,  began  seriously  to  deliberate  on 
the  expediency  of  throwing  the  trade  open,  and  admitting  foreign 
supplies  on  the  same  terms  with  those  from  the  Peninsula.  There 
A^as  some  division  of  opinion;  but  the  majority  were  for  a  free  com 
petition  on  an  equal  footing  between  the  Spaniard  and  the  foreigner, 
on  the  ground  that  Spain  alone  was  unable  to  purchase  or  consume 
the  enormous  mass  of  produce  then  exported  from  the  Island;  and  so 
it  was  accordingly  decided. 

On  the  2 1st  and  22d  of  March,  1809,  a  serious  disturbance  arose, 
the  object  of  which  was  to  invite  the  return  of  the  French  to  the 
Island ;  but  this  popular  movement,  although  considered  dangerous 
at  the  time,  and  viewed  with  alarm  by  the  captain-general,  was 
speedily  put  down  by  the  display  of  firmness  and  resolution  on  the 
part  of  all  who  had  anything  to  lose,  and  by  the  prompt  offer  of  their 
personal  services  for  its  suppression.  Proclamations  were  issued,  a 
respectable  force  was  collected,  and  the  Marques  de  Someruelos  pre 
sented  himself  in  person  to  endeavor  to  pacify  the  discontented. 


WAR  WITH   GREAT   BRITAIN.  287 

Tranquillity  was  restored  at  the  end  of  the  second  day,  with  the 
loss  of  only  two  or  three  lives ;  but  not  without  the  destruction  of  a 
great  deal  of  property.  The  French  settlers  in  the  rural  districts 
were,  in  this  respect,  the  greatest  sufferers ;  and  it'  had,  in  conse 
quence,  the  effect  of  driving  away  several  thousands  of  laborious  and 
intelligent  colonists,  who  were  already  deeply  interested  in  the  pros 
perity  of  the  Island. 

Soon  after  these  events  a  young  man  arrived  from  the  United 
States,  of  whose  proceedings  and  character,  as  an  emissary  of  King 
Joseph,  the  colonial  government  had  been  previously  informed. 
This  unfortunate  person,  Don  Manuel  Aleman,  was  not  even  suffered 
to  land.  The  alguazils  went  on  board  ;  took  possession  of  his  papers 
and  his  person;  a  council  of  war  was  immediately  assembled  ;  but  his 
fate  was  determined  beforehand,  and  on  the  following  morning,  the 
1 3th  of  July,  1810,  he  was  brought  out  to  the  Campo  de  la  Punta, 
and  hanged  for  his  temerity. 

The  revolutionary  proceedings  in  the  continental  provinces  of 
Spain  were  now  in  full  career  toward  that  independence  of  the  mother- 
country  which  they  have  since  achieved.  In  the  meantime,  the 
Island  of  Cuba  enjoyed  a  degree  of  tranquillity  quite  remarkable 
under  the  circumstances  of  the  sister  colonies.  This  state  of  things 
was  naturally,  and  not  unjustly,  ascribed  to  the  political  prudence  and 
sagacity  of  the  Marques  de  Someruelos.  The  colonial  authorities 
petitioned  the  cabinet  of  Madrid  for  the  farther  prorogation  of  his 
government  beyond  the  term  to  which  it  had  been  already  extended. 

But  the  very  fact  of  his  having  given  so  much  satisfaction  to  the 
colonists,  if  we  may  judge  from  experience  elsewhere,  was  not  likely 
to  operate  with  the  government  of  the  mother-country  in  deciding 
on  a  farther  extension  of  his  stay.  Instead  of  acceding  to  the 
prayer  of  the  municipal  functionaries  of  the  Havana,  the  government 
of  Madrid  thought  fit  to  mark  its  sense  of  the  interference  by  in 
stantly  recalling  the  title  of  "  Excellencia,"  which,  on  a  former  occa 
sion,  had  been  granted  to  the  ayuntamiento  as  a  special  mark  of  the 
royal  favor,  and  of  which  they  were  not  a  little  proud. 

The  western  districts  of  the  Island  were  visited,  in  1810,  by  another 


288  WAR  WITH   GREAT  BRITAIN. 

of  those  tremendous  hurricanes,  which  sweep  away  so  much  life  and 
property  in  these  tropical  regions.  The  city  of  the  Havana  was  filled 
with  consternation  and  dismay ;  the  hopes  of  an  abundant  harvest 
were  disappointed ;  in  the  harbor,  so  renowned  for  its  security,  the 
ships  of  war  were  driven  from  their  anchors,  and  no  less  than  sixty 
merchant  vessels  were  destroyed. 

In  the  time  of  Someruelos  the  Casa  de  Beneficencia  was  in  dangel 
of  falling  into  decay ;  but  in  consequence  of  his  earnest  intervention, 
the  Junta  de  Tabacos,  which  in  Spain  as  in  France  is  a  royal  mono 
poly,  consented  to  purchase  100  slaves,  whose  labor  or  whose  wages 
were  to  furnish  funds  for  the  benefit  of  the  institution;  thus  by  an 
extraordinary  perversion  making  the  practice  of  cruelty  and  injustice 
toward  one  portion  of  the  human  family  contribute  to  a  work  of 
charity  in  favor  of  another.  The  slaves  were  first  employed  in  the 
manufacture  of  cigars,  but  have  latterly  been  hired  out  for  daily 
wages  at  whatever  employment  they  could  obtain. 

Outbreak  of  a  Negro  Conspiracy. 

A  negro  conspiracy  broke  out  in  1812,  which  excited  considerable 
dlarm  in  the  minds  of  the  landed  proprietors.  That  alarm  was 
attended  with  its  usual  consequences  :  The  negro  leader,  Aponte,  and 
his  associates  were  treated  with  unsparing  severity,  such  as  may  be 
supposed  to  have  been  dictated  much  more  by  the  fears  of  \hz  hac en- 
dados,  than  by  the  strict  justice  of  the  case. 

The  successor  of  Someruelos  was  Don  Juan  Ruiz  de  Apodaca, 
afterward  Conde  de  Benadito,  who  arrived  on  the  I4th  of  April,  1812  ; 
and  he,  for  the  first  time,  combined  the  command  of  the  naval  force  on 
the  station  with  the  office  of  captain-general  of  the  Island.  This  un 
precedented  combination  arose  from  the  fear  of  the  authors  of  the 
constitution  of  Cadiz,  that  their  work  and  their  representative  would 
not  be  well  received  in  this  aristocratical  colony.  His  first  duty  on 
his  arrival  was  to  proclaim  the  constitution ;  and  although  it  doubt 
less  excited  an  extraordinary  sensation,  it  was  not  openly  resisted. 

The  success  of  Apodaca  in  Cuba  led  to  his  promotion  to  the  rank 
of  viceroy  of  Mexico;  and  on  the  ist  of  July,  1816,  he  was  sue- 


WAR   WITH    GREAT   BRITAIN.  289 

ceeded  at  the  Havana  by  Lieutenant-General  Don  Jose  Cienfuegos. 
In  his  time  the  third  census  of  the  Island  was  accomplished.  This 
captain-general  made  himself  exceedingly  unpopular  at  the  Havana 
by  the  severe  measures  of  police  he  proclaimed  and  enforced  for  the 
suppression  of  projects  of  sedition,  and  for  the  preservation  of  the 
public  tranquillity. 

He  resorted  to  an  expedient  which  in  other  great  cities  would 
scarcely  have  become  the  subject  of  serious  complaint — he  caused 
the  streets  of  the  Havana  to  be  lighted  ;  but  this  was  only  a  part  of 
the  proceeding  to  which  the  citizens  objected.  He  insisted,  also,  on 
closing  up  the  public  thoroughfares  immediately  after  the  conclusion 
of  the  evening  service  in  the  churches  ;  thus  from  that  early  hour 
confining  the  inhabitants  to  their  own  particular  quarter  of  the  city, 
and  giving  rise  to  clamorous  representations  and  to  the  very  disturb 
ances  which  it  was  the  object  of  the  captain-general  to  prevent. 

Arrival  of  a  Convoy  of  Troops. 

Senor  Cienfuegos  was  for  some  time  disabled  by  personal  infirmity 
from  the  active  administration  of  the  government,  and  during  that 
period  his  functions  were  performed  by  Don  Juan  Maria  Hechavarria, 
as  cabo  subalterno  ;  but  on  the  2gth  of  August,  1819,  he  was  finally 
relieved  by  the  arrival  of  his  successor,  Don  Juan  Manuel  Cajigal, 
in  the  Spanish  ship  of  war  "  Sabina  "  with  a  convoy  of  troops  for 
the  supply  of  the  garrison. 

The  following  year,  1820,  from  the  events  which  took  place  in  the 
Peninsula,  was  another  period  of  trial  and  difficulty  for  a  captain- 
general  of  the  Havana ;  but  it  is  admitted  by  all  parties  that  Cajigal 
succeeded,  by  the  prudence  and  delicacy  of  his  conduct,  in  avoiding 
the  evils  which  might  have  been  expected  to  arise  from  the  difficult 
and  extraordinary  circumstances  in  which  he  found  himself  placed. 

The  extreme  affability  of  his  manners,  and  the  perfect  readiness 
with  which  he  received  and  listened  to  all  who  desired  to  approach 
him,  conciliated  universal  good  will ;  and  it  appears  that  the  high 
estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  inhabitants  excited  in  his 
breast  a  corresponding  feeling,  as,  on  the  termination  of  his  com- 


290  WAR  WITH    GREAT   BRITAIN. 

mand,  he  applied  for  and  obtained  the  special  grace  from  the  king  of 
being  permitted  to  take  up  his  permanent  abode  in  the  Island ;  and 
having  retired  to  the  town  of  Guanabacoa,  he  died  there  some  time 
afterward,  a  simple  but  respected  citizen. 

The  next  captain-general  was  Don  Nicolas  Mahy,  who  arrived 
from  Bordeaux  in  the  French  frigate  "  Therese,"  on  the  3d  of  March, 
1821 ;  but  such  was  the  turbulence  which  prevailed  in  these  trouble 
some  times  that  he  proved  unequal  to  the  task  of  controlling  the 
storm,  and  at  length  sunk  under  the  difficulties  which  surrounded 
him.  He  died  on  the  i8th  of  July,  1822,  but  retained  to  the  last 
moment  of  his  life  the  direct  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the 
government. 

Erection  of  a  Famous  Temple. 

After  his  death  the  government  was  assumed  provisionally  by  the 
cabo  subalterno,  Don  Sebastian  Kindelan;  and  on  the  2d  of  May, 
1823,  the  new  captain-general  arrived,  Don  Francisco  Dionisio  Vives, 
who  was  afterward  raised  to  the  dignity  of  Conde  de  Cuba.  It  was 
in  his  time  that  the  fourth  and  last  census  of  the  Island  was  accom 
plished.  It  was  under  Vives,  also,  that  the  rural  militia  was  organ 
ized,  and  that  the  construction  of  the  fortresses  of  Bahia-honda, 
Mariel,  Jaruco,  and  the  Cabanas  was  begun  or  completed.  It  was  he 
who  divided  the  Island  into  three  military  departments  ;  and  it  was 
under  his  auspices  that  the  temple  was  erected  on  the  Plaza  de  Armas 
of  the  Havana,  on  the  very  spot  where,  if  tradition  is  to  be  believed, 
the  first  Christian  rite  was  performed  in  the  New  World. 

It  is  doubtless  with  the  view  of  adding  to  the  solemnity  of  the 
occasion  that  the  temple  is  opened  only  once  a  year,  on  the  anniver 
sary  of  the  day  that  Mass  was  first  said  there,  in  the  presence  of 
Columbus,  to  return  thanks  to  Heaven  for  the  success  which  had 
attended  his  enterprise.  It  was  also  in  the  time  of  Vives  that  the 
two  lunatic  asylums,  el  Departamento  de  Dementes,  were  added  to  the 
Casa  de  Beneficcncia ;  and  it  is  recorded  of  him  that  he  never  failed 
to  preside  at  the  meetings  of  the  institution,  and  to  animate  by  his 
presence  the  drooping  zeal  of  his  colleagues  in  the  direction. 

On  the  1 5th  of  May,  1832,  Don  Mariano  Roquefort  took  possession 


WAR   WITH    GREAT   BRITAIN.  291 

of  the  government;  and  on  the  1st  of  June,  1834,  he  was  succeeded 
by  Don  Miguel  Tacon,  whose  administration  terminated  on  the  i6th 
of  April,  1838,  when  Don  Joaquin  de  Espeleta,  who  had  for  some 
time  resided  at  the  Havana  with  the  rank  of  sub-inspector-general  of 
the  troops,  and  second  cabo  subalterno,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
captain-general,  not  provisionally,  as  had  been  usual  on  former  occa 
sions,  but  como  proprietaries  to  use  a  form  of  expression  in  constant 
use,  as  applied  to  public  offices  in  the  language  of  Castile  as  well  as 
in  that  of  France. 

General  Espeleta  marked  his  career  by  a  straightforward  course, 
strongly  exemplified  in  his  putting  down  all  obnoxious  and  costly 
practices  to  obtain  licenses  and  passports,  which  were  favored,  both 
by  those  preceding  and  succeeding  him,  from  sordid  and  ignoble 
motives.  His  uprightness  could  not,  however,  wash  out  the  political 
stain  of  his  birth;  for,  by  a  mere  chance,  Espeleta  was  born  at 
Havana.  He  was  consequently  soon  removed,  and  before  the  regular 
term  of  five  years,  allotted  to  such  offices  in  Spanish  America. 

Met  by  Opposition. 

The  Prince  of  Anglona,  the  next  captain-general  in  order  of  time, 
was  a  gentlemanly  and  courteous  chief  who,  after  one  year's  com 
mand  in  1841,  left  the  charge  of  the  Island  to  the  noble-minded  Don 
Geronimo  Valdez,  a  man  whose  whole  life  had  evinced  a  consistent 
love  of  liberty,  scarcely  ever  met  with  in  a  Spanish  soldier,  for  such 
he  was.  Being  informed  that  there  was  a  conspiracy  on  foot,  and 
that  many  young  men  talked  in  a  revolutionary  strain,  he  answered: 
"  I  have  a  powerful  army  at  my  command ;  let  the  conspirators  sally 
forth,  and  I  shall  destroy  them,  but  not  before." 

This  liberality  to  the  Cubans,  and  his  conciliating  course  toward 
the  abolitionist  Turnbull,  who  had  landed  at  an  unfortified  part  of  the 
Island,  for  some  sinister  purpose,  among  the  blacks  ;  and  more  than 
all,  his  disinterested  and  faithful  observance  of  the  treaties  condemn 
ing  the  African  slave  trade,  brought  on  him  the  unrestrained  attacks 
of  those  engaged  or  concerned  in  it  as  capitalists  or  officials  of  gov 
ernment.  He  was  consequently  hurried  from  his  station  in  the  most 


292  WAR   WITH    GREAT   BRITAIN. 

unceremonious  manner,  and  the  party  who  vainly  endeavored  to 
injure  his  name,  charging  him  with  motives  treasonable  to  Spain, 
found  in  his  successor  a  man  better  disposed  to  forward  their  selfish 
and  sordid  purposes,  though  for  the  same  reason  equally  calculated 
to  alienate  the  hearts  of  the  inhabitants. 

Valdez  had  the  courage  and  honesty  to  issue,  during  his  short  com 
mand,  upward  of  a  thousand  grants  of  freedom  illegally  withheld  by 
his  predecessors  from  so  many  Africans  who,  according  to  the  treaty, 
had  become  free.  He  left  the  Palace  of  the  captains-general  of  Cuba 
in  the  same  high-minded  poverty  in  which  he  had  entered  it. 

In  1843,  General  Leopold  O'Donnell  took  the  command  of  the 
Island,  and  never  was  military  despotism  more  successfully  directed 
to  destroy  popular  franchises,  to  establish  individual  oppression 
beyond  the  possibility  of  redress  by  altering  existing  institutions, 
and  eminently  to  satisfy  the  avaricious  thirst  of  the  captain-general 
and  his  family  and  favorites.  The  bloody  page  of  the  negro  insur 
rection,  reported  in  another  part  of  this  work,  was  the  most  prominent 
feature  of  his  governorship. 

Strange  Sources  of  Wealth. 

At  the  close  of  one  of  General  O'Donnell's  balls,  his  wife  sent  for 
the  baker  who  had  supplied  the  entertainment,  to  come  at  3  o'clock 
A.  M.,  to  take  back  the  loaves  not  used !  The  baker  refused,  saying 
that  he  could  not  sell  them  except  as  stale  bread,  at  a  very  reduced 
price.  To  this  she  replied  that  she  had  sent  for  him  at  so  early  an 
hour  that  he  might  have  the  chance  of  mixing  it  with  the  fresh  bread 
he  was  to  send  around  to  his  customers  that  morning.  She  was 
engaged  in  all  kinds  of  profitable  undertakings  of  the  most  obscure 
and  common  pursuits  in  life  ;  monopolies  of  the  most  repugnant 
character  were  introduced  for  her  advantage,  based  on  the  un 
bounded  authority  of  a  provincial  tyrant.  The  cleansing  of  the  sew 
ers,  and  the  locality  fixed  for  the  reception  of  the  manure  and  dirt  of 
the  city  were  among  the  many  sources  of  wealth  which  she  did  not 
scruple  to  turn  to  her  advantage. 

But  nothing  was  so  fruitful  to  this  family  of  dealers,  as  the  slave 


WAR  WITH    GREAT   BRITAIN.  293 

trade  which,  it  was  publicly  asserted,  furnished  emoluments  even  to 
the  daughter  of  the  captain-general.  O'Donnell  was  part  owner  of 
the  marble  quarries  of  the  Isle  of  Pines,  whither  he,  by  his  sole 
authority,  sent  to  labor  a  great  number  of  suspected  or  accused  per 
sons,  without  judgment  or  sentence  passed  on  them.  The  agency 
for  obtaining  passports,  and  other  services  connected  with  govern 
ment,  as  published  in  the  Havana  papers,  exhibits  a  degree  of  immo 
rality  and  defiance  of  public  opinion  hardly  to  be  found  in  any 
civilized  country. 

General  Frederico  Roncali,  graced  by  one  of  the  numerous  titles 
which  Queen  Christina  has  so  profusedly  and  undeservedly  bestowed 
within  a  very  recent  period,  took  the  command  of  the  Island  in  1848. 
His  ridiculous  and  perplexed  action  during  the  movement  of  the 
Round  Island  expedition,  shows  how  weak  the  strength  of  bayonets 
is,  where  it  is  unsupported  either  by  the  confidence  of  the  soldiery,  or 
by  the  love  of  the  people  for  their  rulers. 

Spanish  Despotism  Doomed. 

The  idea  of  marching  out  4000  men,  and  stationing  them  in  the 
central  department  of  the  Island,  and  announcing  to  the  soldiers  that 
they  were  to  receive  double  pay  as  soon  as  the  enemy  landed, 
merely  because  400  Americans  had  taken  their  abode  in  an  island 
700  miles  off,  is  a  tacit  acknowledgment  of  the  impending  termina 
tion  of  Spanish  rule  in  Cuba — that  tottering  column  of  European 
despotism  in  America.  General  Roncali's  incapacity  was  never 
made  more  manifest,  however,  than  in  his  management  of  the  Rey 
affair.  Don  Cirilo  Villaverde,  author  of  a  novel  entitled  "  Cecilia 
Valdez,"  and  other  literary  works,  being  accused  of  corresponding 
with  the  editor  of  the  Cuban  paper  called  La  Verdad,  was  confined  to 
the  Havana  prison  during  his  trial,  which  he  had  no  reason  to  expect 
should  be  fair  or  favorable  in  its  results  to  him. 

While  there,  a  fraudulent  bankrupt,  by  name  Fernandez,  being  on 
the  eve  of  escaping,  through  promises  made  to  the  jail-keeper  Rey, 
of  sharing  with  him  the  imaginary  spoils  of  his  bankruptcy,  Mr.  Vil 
laverde  succeeded  in  availing  himself  of  the  same  opportunity  to  fly, 


294  WAR   WITH    GREAT   BRITAIN. 

and  save  himself,  rather  than  trttet  to  his  innocence  or  the  irregular 
ity  and  corruption  of  Spanish  military  justice.  The  result,  fully 
establishing  the  moral  weakness  of  a  government  whose  very  agents 
turn  against  it,  served  to  excite  the  anger  and  spiteful  revenge  of 
Roncali. 

He  therefore  succeeded,  through  the  consul  at  New  Orleans,  Don 
Carlos  Esparia,  in  abducting  the  jail-keeper,  who  was  thereby  des 
tined  to  be  severely  punished,  or  generously  rewarded  should  he  act 
as  witness  against  such  influential  Creoles  as  were  suspected  of  dis 
satisfaction  to  the  Spanish  government.  It  is  not  necessary  to  add 
anything  further  on  this  subject.  The  American  public  are  suffi 
ciently  acquainted  with  the  subsequent  history  of  this  ominous,  sacri 
legious  and  insulting  act  of  the  authorized  menial  of  a  European 
monarch  on  the  heretofore  respected  soil  of  America. 

Whatever  moral  qualities  and  honest  wishes  some  of  the  captains- 
general  may  have  possessed,  they  were  compelled  to  follow  out  the 
restrictions  and  spoliations  commenced  by  Tacon.  The  path  of 
despotism,  when  justified  by  the  national  excuse  of  holding  a  distant 
colony,  must  always  be  one  of  inevitable  and  progressive  oppression. 

The  historical  sketch  of  Cuba  is  here  concluded.  The  next  chap 
ters  are  designed  to  furnish  an  absrtact  of  its  political  history,  includ 
ing  a  notice  of  a  formidable  insurrection,  with  an  account  of  the 
remarkable  policy  which  has  brought  the  Island  to  its  present 
miserable  condition. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
The  Tyrannical  Rule  of  Spain. 

PREVIOUS  to  the  eighteenth  century,  the  history  of  the  Island 
of  Cuba  is  mostly  occupied  with  accounts  of  the  settlements 
commenced  by  the  first  Governor,  Diego  Velasquez ;  the 
noble  defence  of  the  Cazique  Athuei,  who  was  burned  alive  by  order 
of  the  former;  and  the  usual  repartimientos  or  distribution  of  the 
territory  and  Indians  among  the  Spanish  settlers,  which,  through 
excess  of  labor,  hastened  the  depopulation  of  the  country.  During 
that  early  period  is  also  noticed  the  sailing  of  expeditions  to  more 
recently  discovered  and  alluring  regions ;  the  beginning  of  the 
African  slave  trade,  and  the  occasional  descent  and  depredations  of 
the  buccaneers.  The  latter  were  so  bold,  from  the  scant  population 
and  absence  of  fortifications,  that  they  carried  off  at  one  time  the 
venerable  Bishop  Cabezas  Altanurano,  and  at  another,  the  very  bells 
of  the  church  and  the  cannons  of  the  castle  at  Santiago. 

Soon  after  the  royal  decree  of  1530,  liberating  the  native  Indians, 
the  remnants  of  this  unfortunate  race  appeared  to  have  congregated 
in  towns  such  as  Guanabacoa,  Guaisabana,  Ovejas,  and  Caneyes- 
arriba,  and  to  have  applied  their  efforts  to  simple  husbandry  and 
grazing. 

But  the  advance  of  Cuba  must  have  been  extremely  limited  or 
doubtful,  since  the  Bishop  Almendares  estimated  the  population  of 
all  the  towns  and  cities  in  1612  at  6,700  inhabitants. 

The  truth  lies  in  the  fact  that,  after  having  exhausted  the  Indian 
population,  the  Island  was  only  held  as  a  military  post  on  the  way  to 
the  mines  of  Mexico,  with  little  else  to  occupy  its  reduced  population 
than  the  raising  of  cattle  on  lands  not  appropriated.  Till  the  latter 
years  of  the  past  century,  commerce  was  not  only  confined  to  Spanish 
merchantmen,  but  to  the  periodical  voyage  of  the  fleet  belonging  to 

295 


296  TYRANNICAL   RULE  OF  SPAIN. 

the  privileged  India  Company.  Foreign  trade  has  only  been  author 
ized  in  the  present  century,  when  the  European  wars,  forcing  the 
Spanish  flag  from  the  seas,  and  the  encroachment  of  contraband 
trade,  made  it  impossible  to  oppose  it. 

In  the  laws  and  municipal  rights  of  Cuba,  we  notice  the  same  in 
dependent  and  liberal  spirit  which  prevailed  in  all  the  settlements  of 
Spain  among  the  Moors,  or  elsewhere,  as  far  as  the  Spanish  settlers 
and  their  descendants  were  concerned.  Thus  in  the  sixteenth  and 
seventeenth  centuries,  public  assemblies  of  citizens  were  held  to  elect 
the  members  of  the  corporations ;  free  and  bold  charges  were  made 
and  sustained  against  governors;  and  no  taxation  was  permitted 
which  was  not  sanctioned  by  these  bodies,  who  exercised  the  same 
prerogatives  in  the  Spanish  peninsula,  during  the  long  suspension  of 
representative  government. 

Peculiar  Notions  and  Prejudices. 

As  to  the  commercial  restrictions  which  prevented  the  growth  of 
this  beautiful  garden  of  America,  they  did  not  originate  in  any  right, 
expressed  or  implied,  to  control  the  fate  of  Cuba,  on  the  part  of  the 
European  provinces,  but  in  the  peculiar  notions  of  the  age  on 
matters  of  political  economy.  Equally  injudicious  was  the  system 
observed  in  the  internal  trade  and  relations  between  the  several 
Spanish  provinces  themselves,  whose  wealth  and  physical  advance 
are  to  this  day  obstructed  by  antiquated  prejudices.  Aside,  there 
fore,  from  the  measures  adopted  to  nationalize  the  commerce  and 
trade  of  Cuba,  or  rather  to  direct  their  course  by  legislation,  there 
was  not,  until  the  last  twenty  years,  any  serious  precedent  or  open 
effort  to  justify  a  difference  between  the  political  rights  of  the  Cubans 
and  the  Spaniards  on  the  soil  of  Cuba. 

Were  the  conquest  held  as  the  foundation  of  such  difference,  the 
privilege  should  certainly  attach  to  the  descendants  of  those  who 
shed  their  blood  and  used  their  means  in  the  acquisition  of  the  coun 
try — not  to  the  emigration,  much  less  to  the  salaried  officers  of  the 
government. 

The  recognition  of  the  popular  principle  in  the  Sociedad  Patriotica 


TYRANNICAL   RULE   OF  SPAIN.  297 

and  Consulado,  established  near  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
and  the  vast  influence  derived  therefrom,  and  which,  in  after  times, 
gave  a  liberal  tinge  to  the  local  administration,  is  especially  worthy 
of  notice. 

Struggling  for  her  own  independence,  and  boldly  confronting  the 
ambitious  and  mighty  chieftain  of  the  age,  Spain,  at  the  opening  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  appeared  in  a  noble  attitude.  Actuated  by  the 
most  sacred  impulses  of  patriotism,  and  intensely  engaged  in  the 
wars  and  policy  of  Europe,  she  could  not  and  did  not  refuse  what 
ever  was  requested  by  the  Cuban  assemblies. 

Loyalty  to  the  Mother  Country. 

Cuba,  on  her  part,  repaid  the  liberality  of  the  mother-country  by 
an  unwavering  loyalty.  Unseduced  by  the  alluring  prospect  of  inde 
pendence,  and  undismayed  by  repeated  invasions  from  foreign  powers, 
she  shut  her  eyes  to  the  former,  and  boldly  resisted  the  latter,  at  the 
liberal  expense  of  the  treasures  of  the  Island,  and  the  lives  of  the 
inhabitants. 

This  brings  us  to  a  period  marked  by  fluctuations  in  the  political 
history  of  Spain  and  her  dependencies,  and  it  is  now  to  be  seen  what 
were  their  effect  upon  Cuba. 

The  political  changes  adopted  in  Spain  in  1812  and  1820  were 
productive  of  similar  changes  in  the  Island ;  and  when  in  both 
instances  the  constitution  was  proclaimed,  the  perpetual  members  of 
the  municipalities  were  at  once  deprived  of  office,  and  their  success 
ors  elected  by  the  people.  The  provincial  assembly  was  called,  and 
held  its  sessions.  The  militia  was  organized ;  the  press  made 
entirely  free,  the  verdict  of  a  jury  deciding  actions  for  its  abuses;  and 
the  same  courts  of  justice  were  in  no  instance  to  decide  a  case  a  sec 
ond  time. 

But  if  the  institution  of  the  consulado  was  very  beneficent  during 
Ferdinand's  absolute  sway,  the  ultra-popular  grants  of  the  constitu 
tional  system,  which  could  hardly  be  exercised  with  quiet  in  Spain, 
were  ill-adapted  to  Cuba,  though  more  advanced  in  civilization, 
stained  with  all  those  vices  that  are  the  legitimate  curse  of  a  country 


298  TYRANNICAL   RULE   OF  SPAIN. 

long  under  despotic  sway.  That  system  was  so  democratic  that  the 
king  was  deprived  of  all  political  authority.  No  intermediate  house 
of  nobility  or  senators  tempered  the  enactments  of  a  single  elective 
assembly. 

This  sudden  change  from  an  absolute  government,  with  its  usual 
concomitant,  a  corrupt  and  debased  public  sentiment,  to  the  full 
enjoyment  of  republican  privileges,  served  only  to  loosen  all  the  ties 
of  decency  and  decorum  throughout  the  Spanish  community.  Infi 
delity  resulted  from  it ;  and  that  veil  of  respect  for  the  religion  of 
their  fathers,  which  had  covered  the  deformity  of  such  a  state  of 
society,  was  imprudently  thrown  aside.  As  the  natural  consequence 
of  placing  the  instruments  of  freedom  in  the  hands  of  an  ignorant 
multitude,  their  minds  were  filled  with  visions  of  that  chimerical 
equality  which  the  world  has  never  yet  realized. 

The  Rich  Arrayed  Against  the  Poor. 

The  rich  found  themselves  deprived  of  their  accustomed  influence, 
and  felt  that  there  was  little  chance  of  obtaining  justice  from  the 
common  people  (in  no  place  so  formidable  as  in  Cuba,  from  the 
heterogeneous  nature  of  the  population),  and  who  were  now,  in  a 
manner,  arrayed  against  them  throughout  the  land.  They,  of  course, 
eagerly  wished  the  return  of  the  old  system  of  absolute  rule.  But 
the  proprietors  only  asked  for  the  liberal  policy  which  they  had 
enjoyed  at  the  hands  of  the  Spanish  monarch;  not,  most  surely,  that 
oppressive  and  nondescript  government  which,  by  separating  the 
interest  of  the  country  from  that  of  her  nearest  rulers,  and  destroying 
all  means  of  redress  or  complaint,  thrust  the  last  offspring  of  Spain 
into  an  abyss  of  bloodshed  and  ruin,  during  the  disgusting  exercise 
of  military  rule,  in  punishing  by  the  most  arbitrary  and  cruel  mea 
sures,  persons  suspected  of  engaging  in  an  apprehended  servile  insur 
rection. 

During  the  second  period  of  democratic  or  what  was  called  consti 
tutional  government,  which  commenced  in  1820,  the  masonic  socie 
ties  came  into  vogue  as  they  did  in  the  mother-country.  They 
adopted  different  plausible  pretexts,  though,  to  speak  the  truth,  they 


TYRANNICAL   RULE   OF   SPAIN.  299 

were  little  more  than  clubs  for  amusement  and  revelry.  One  of 
them,  called  the  "Soles  de  Bolivar"  went  so  far  as  to  discuss 
whether,  in  case  of  a  Colombian  invasion,  it  would  be  more  expedient 
to  avoid  a  collision  in  the  presence  of  the  slaves,  by  giving  way 
peaceably  before  the  invading  army. 

Happily  for  Cuba,  and  certainly  in  consequence  of  the  judicious 
interference  of  the  United  States,  which  foresaw  in  the  preservation 
of  its  tranquillity  the  advantages  of  a  fruitful  commerce,  the  invasion 
did  not  take  place.  The  difficulty  of  annexation,  from  the  lesser 
influence  the  United  States  then  possessed  among  nations  and  the 
controlling  importance  of  the  shipping  interest  in  our  country,  made 
it  unadvisable  for  Cuba  to  launch  into  a  revolution  unsustained,  and 
in  this  way  to  experience  a  severe  scourge,  which,  at  that  time,  would 
have  proved  the  principal  if  not  the  only  fruits  of  independence  to 
the  first  generation  of  its  recipients.  Under  any  circumstances  the 
subsequent  jealous  policy  of  the  Spanish  government  has  been  alto 
gether  unwarranted. 

Schemes  to  Keep  Cuba  a  Dependent  Province. 

A  respectable  portion  of  the  old  Spaniards  residing  in  Cuba,  were 
themselves  desirous  of  upholding  the  constitutional  system  in  the 
Island  which  they  saw  tottering  in  Spain.  General  Vives,  who  com 
manded  at  that  time,  regarded  the  circumstance  with  anxious  solici 
tude,  and  very  reasonably  inferred  that,  if  the  constitution  of  1812 
was  sustained  in  Cuba  after  the  king's  absolute  power  was  acknowl 
edged  in  Spain,  the  consequences  would  be  fatal  to  its  dependence, 
however  rational  and  honest  the  views  of  the  constitutionalists  might 
be  considered. 

Hence  his  strenuous  efforts  in  1824,  after  the  restoration  of  Ferdi 
nand,  to  make  the  most  of  the  wild  and  varying  schemes  which  had 
been  proposed  in  the  "  Soles  de  Bolivar"  under  the  democratic  insti 
tutions,  and  the  relaxation  of  the  reins  of  government.  The  greatly 
reduced  Spanish  military  force  at  that  time  in  the  Island,  and  the  fact 
that  much  of  it  consisted  of  regular  regiments  and  native  militia,  are 
sufficient  proof  that  to  the  solid  good  sense  of  the  inhabitants,  rather 


300  TYRANNICAL   RULE   OF  SPAIN. 

than  any  show  of  strength,  should  be  attributed  the  immediate  dis 
appearance  of  those  germs  of  disquietude.  Not  even  the  weakness  of 
General  Kindelan  could  induce  the  planters  to  lose  sight  of  their  chief 
interest. 

Prosecutions  and  Imprisonments. 

Though  General  Vives  subsequently  desired  to  impress  the  con 
stitutional  party  with  the  idea  that  they  might  be  carried  farther  than 
they  meant  to  go,  and  with  that  view  took  especial  care  that  a  well- 
concerted  scheme  for  throwing  off  the  Spanish  yoke  should  appear 
to  have  been  devised,  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  notwithstanding 
he  caused  the  prosecution  and  imprisonment  of  many  individuals, 
and  occasionally  the  ruin  and*  misery  of  their  families,  he  oftentimes 
also  interfered  to  mitigate  the  appalling  and  unavoidable  excesses  of 
those  menials  of  government  who  are  every  ready,  under  such  cir 
cumstances,  to  exceed  the  wishes  of  the  leading  statesmen,  and  to 
make  political  difficulties  subservient  to  the  vilest  purposes.  That 
which  should  have  warned  the  Spanish  ministry  of  the  inexpediency  of 
establishing  such  inappropriate  institutions,  brought  upon  the  Island 
all  its  subsequent  misfortunes;  namely,  the  Royal  Order  of  1825. 

By  this  order  Cuba  was  placed  under  martial  law;  and  the  captain- 
general  was  invested  "  with  the  whole  extent  of  power  granted  to 
governors  of  besieged  towns." 

The  sad  effects  of  this  royal  order,  which  the  king  only  meant  to 
be  observed  temporarily,  and  under  a  strict  responsibility,  "  le  mas 
estrecta  responsibilidad,"  were  not  immediately  felt.  '/  Truth  and 
justice  compel  me  to  assert,"  says  one  of  the  most  enlightened 
Cubans,  on  being  rejected  from  the  Cortes,  in  common  with  all  the 
deputies  from  the  province,  "  that  notwithstanding  the  terrible 
authority  conferred  on  the  captain-general  by  this  royal  order,  Vives, 
who  then  held  that  office,  far  from  putting  it  in  execution  during 
his  long  government,  discovered  that  its  application  would  be  equally 
disadvantageous  to  Cuba  and  Spain.  Under  a  mild  and  conciliatory 
policy  this  Island  became  the  refuge  of  many  unhappy  prescripts, 
who  were  expelled  from  the  Peninsular  territory  by  the  arm  of 
tyranny." 


TYRANNICAL  RULE  OF  SPAIN.  301 

The  judicious  administration  of  the  Count  Villanueva,  which  had 
undoubtedly  an  influence  materially  advantageous  to  the  country,  was 
likewise  calculated  to  make  every  one  forget  the  depressed  political 
condition  to  which  the  new  law  had  reduced  the  inhabitants  of  Cuba. 
Under  its  fearful  and  comprehensive  provisos,  since  become  the 
scourge  of  the  land,  public  bodies  were  respected.  Some  of  them 
constantly  consulted  together  on  grave  subjects,  such  as  the  rural 
and  domestic  police  for  the  management  of  slaves,  the  imposition  of 
taxes  and  judiciary  reform,  and  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  printing 
their  reports,  without  applying  for  the  consent  of  the  executive 
officers ;  and  the  press  was  moreover  very  far  from  being  restricted 

as  it  now  is. 

The  Problem  of  Slavery. 

As  a  proof  that  the  political  servitude  created  by  the  royal  order 
of  1825  was  not  intended  to  be  permanent,  an  extract  is  made  from 
an  article  on  the  dangers  of  the  slave  trade,  published  in  a  periodical 
of  Havana,  in  1832,  under  the  despotic  government  of  Ferdinand, 
and  seven  years  after  issuing  the  royal  order  above  referred  to. 
Immediately  following  a  very  precise  detail  of  facts,  of  the  numbers 
of  imported  slaves,  and  of  the  relative  position  of  the  races,  we  read : 

"Thus  far  we  have  only  considered  the  power  which  has  its  origin 
in  the  numbers  of  the  colored  population  that  surrounds  us.  What 
a  picture  we  might  draw,  if  we  were  to  portray  this  immense  body 
acting  under  the  influence  of  political  and  moral  causes,  and  present 
ing  a  spectacle  unknown  in  history !  We  surely  shall  not  do  it.  But 
we  should  be  guilty  of  moral  treason  to  our  country,  if  we  were  to 
forget  the  efforts  now  making  to  effect  a  change  in  the  condition  of 
the  African  race. 

''  Philanthropic  laws,  enacted  by  some  of  the  European  nations, 
associations  of  distinguished  Englishmen,  periodicals  solely  devoted 
to  this  subject,  eloquent  parliamentary  debates  whose  echoes  are 
constantly  repeated  on  this  side  the  Atlantic,  bold  exhortations  from 
the  pulpits  of  religious  sects,  political  principles  which  with  lightning 
rapidity  are  spreading  in  both  hemispheres,  and  very  recent  commo 
tions  in  several  parts  of  the  West  Indies,  everything  is  calculated  to 


302  TYRANNICAL   RULE   OF   SPAIN. 

awaken  us  from  our  profound  slumber  and  remind  us  that  we  must 
save  our  country.  And  should  this  our  beloved  mother  ask  us  what 
measures  we  have  adopted  to  extricate  her  from  her  danger,  what 
would  those  who  boast  themselves  her  dutiful  sons,  answer  ? 

"  The  horrid  traffic  in  human  blood  is  carried  on  in  defiance  of  the 
laws,  and  men  who  assume  the  name  of  patriots,  being  no  other  thai\ 
parricides,  cover  the  land  with  shackled  victims.  And  as  if  this  were 
not  sufficiently  fearful,  with  criminal  apathy,  Africans  freed  and 
brought  to  this  country  by  English  policy,  are  permitted  to  reside  in 
our  midst.  How  different  the  conduct  of  our  neighbors  the  Ameri 
cans  ! 

Political  Situation  in  the  United  States. 

"Notwithstanding  the  rapid  increase  of  their  country;  notwithstand 
ing  the  white  has  constantly  been  four-fifths  more  numerous  than  the 
colored  population,  and  have  ten  and  a  half  millions  to  offset  two 
millions ;  notwithstanding  the  importation  of  the  latter  is  prohibited 
from  one  end  of  the  republic  to  the  other,  while  European  immigra 
tion  is  immense ;  notwithstanding  the  countries  lying  upon  their 
boundaries  have  no  slaves  to  inspire  dread,  they  organize  associations, 
raise  funds,  purchase  lands  in  Africa,  establish  colonies,  favor  the 
emigration  of  the  colored  population  to  them,  increasing  their  exer 
tions  as  the  exigency  may  require,  not  faltering  in  their  course,  and 
leaving-  no  expedient  untried  which  shall  prove  them  friends  of 
humanity  and  their  country.  Not  satisfied  with  these  general  meas 
ures,  some  states  have  adopted  very  thorough  and  efficient  measures. 
In  December,  1831,  Louisiana  passed  a  law  prohibiting  importation 
of  slaves  even  from  other  states  of  the  Union. 

"  Behold  the  movement  of  a  great  people,  who  would  secure  their 
safety !  Behold  the  model  you  should  imitate !  But  we  are  told, 
'Your  efforts  are  vain.  You  cannot  justly  reproach  us.  Our  plan 
tations  need  hands,  and  if  we  cannot  obtain  negroes,  what  shall  we 
do  ?'  We  are  far  from  wishing  to  offend  a  class  equally  deserving 
respect  and  esteem,  including  many  we  are  happy  to  call  friends. 
We  are  habitually  indulgent,  and  in  no  instance  more  so  than  in  that 
before  us.  The  notions  and  examples  to  which  they  have  been 


TYRANNICAL   RULE   OF   SPAIN.  303 

accustomed,  justify  in  a  great  measure  the  part  they  act,  and  an 
immediate  benefit  and  remote  danger  authorize  in  others  a  course  of 
conduct  which  we  wish  may  never  be  generally  and  permanently 
adopted.  We  would  not  rudely  censure  the  motives  of  the  planters. 

"  Our  mission  requires  us  only  to  remark,  that  it  is  necessary  to 
adopt  some  other  plan,  since  the  change  in  politics  is  inconsistent  with 
and  hostile  to  the  much  longer  continuance  of  the  illicit  traffic  in 
slaves.  We  all  know  that  England  has,  both  with  selfish  and  humane 
motives,  made  and  is  still  making  great  efforts  against  it  by  means  of 
treaties.  She  is  no  longer  the  only  power  thus  engaged,  since  France 
is  also  taking  her  share  in  the  enterprise. 

"  The  United  States  will  soon  appear  in  the  field  to  vindicate  down 
trodden  humanity.  They  will  adopt  strong  measures,  and  persever- 
ingly  pursue  the  pirate  negro-dealer.  Will  he  then  escape  the  vigi 
lance  of  enemies  so  active  and  powerful  ?  And  even  should  some 
be  able  to  do  so,  how  enormously  expensive  must  their  piracy  be  ! 
It  is  demonstrable  that  the  number  of  imported  negroes  being  then 
small,  and  their  introduction  subject  to  uncommon  risks,  their  cost 
would  be  so  enhanced  as  to  destroy  the  motive  for  preferring  slave 
labor. 

"  A  proper  regard  to  our  true  interests  will  lead  us  to  consider 
henceforth  other  means  of  supplying  our  wants,  since  our  present 
mode  will  ultimately  paralyze  our  resources  and  be  attended  with 
baneful  consequences.  The  equal  distribution  of  the  two  sexes  in 
the  country,  and  an  improved  treatment  of  them,  would  alone  be  suf 
ficient,  not  merely  to  prevent  a  diminution  of  their  number,  but  greatly 
to  increase  it.  But  the  existing  disproportion  of  the  sexes  forbids 
our  indulging  in  so  pleasing  a  hope.  We  shall,  however,  do  much  to 
effect  our  purposes  by  discontinuing  certain  practices,  and  adopting  a 
system  more  consonant  to  the  good  principles  that  should  be  our 
guide. 

"  Would  it  not  be  advisable  to  try  some  experiments  that  we  may 
be  able  to  compare  the  results  of  cultivating  cane  by  slaves,  with  such 
other  method  as  we  may  find  it  expedient  to  adopt  ? 

"  If  the  planters  could  realize  the  importance  of  these  propositions 


304  TYRANNICAL   RULE   OF  SPAIN. 

to  their  welfare,  we  should  see  them  striving  to  promote  the  introduc 
tion  of  white  and  the  exclusion  of  colored  hands.  By  forming  asso 
ciations,  raising  funds,  and  in  various  ways  exerting  themselves 
vigorously  in  a  cause  so  eminently  patriotic,  they  would  at  once 
overcome  the  obstacles  to  the  introduction  of  white  foreigners,  and 
induce  their  immigration  by  the  guarantees  of  good  laws  and  the 
assured  tranquillity  of  the  country. 

A  Serious  Emergency. 

"  We  may  be  told  that  these  are  imaginary  plans,  and  never  to  be 
realized.  We  answer  that  they  are  essays,  not  difficult  or  expensive, 
if  undertaken,  as  we  suggest,  by  a  whole  community.  If  we  are  not 
disposed  to  make  the  voluntary  trial  now,  the  day  is  at  hand  when  we 
shall  be  obliged  to  attempt  it,  or  abandon  the  cultivation  of  sugar. 
The  prudent  mariner  on  a  boisterous  ocean  prepares  betimes  for  the 
tempest  and  defies  it.  He  who  recklessly  abandons  himself  to  the 
fury  of  the  elements  is  likely  to  perish  in  the  rage  of  the  storm. 

'"How  imprudent/  some  may  exclaim,  'how  imprudent/  to  pro 
pose  a  subject  which  should  be  forever  buried  in  '  lasting  oblivion  ! ' 
Behold  the  general  accusation  raised  against  him  who  dares  boldly 
avow  new  opinions  respecting  these  matters.  Unfortunately  there 
is  among  us  an  opinion  which  insists  that  '  silence  '  is  the  true  policy. 
All  feel  the  evils  which  surround  us,  are  acquainted  with  the  dangers, 
and  wish  to  avoid  them.  Let  a  remedy  be  suggested  and  a  thousand 
confused  voices  are  simultaneously  raised  ;  and  a  significant  and  im 
ploring  '  Hush  ! ' — '  hush  ! '  is  heard  on  every  side. 

"Such  infatuation  resembles  his  who  conceals  the  disease  which  is 
hurrying  him  to  speedy  death,  rather  than  hear  its  unpleasant  history 
and  mode  of  cure,  from  his  only  hope,  the  physician's  saving  science. 
Which  betrays  censurable  apathy,  he  who  obstinately  rushes  head 
long  to  the  brink  of  a  mighty  precipice,  or  he  who  gives  the  timely 
warning  to  beware  ?  Who  would  not  thus  save  a  whole  community 
perhaps  from  frightful  destruction  ?  If  we  knew  most  positively  that 
the  disease  were  beyond  all  hopes  of  cure,  the  knowledge  of  the  fact 
would  not  stay  the  march  of  death,  while  it  might  serve  but  as  a  ter 
rifying  annunciation  of  his  approach. 


TYRANNICAL   RULE   OF  SPAIN.  305 

"  If,  however,  the  sick  man  is  endowed  with  a  strong  constitution, 
that  with  timely  prescription  promises  a  probable  return  of  health,  it 
would  be  unpardonable  to  act  the  part  of  a  passive  spectator.  We 
heed  not  that  the  selfish  condemn,  that  the  self-admiring  wise  cen 
sure,  or  the  parricidal  accuse  us.  Reflections  of  a  higher  nature  guide 
us,  and  in  the  spirit  of  our  responsible  calling  as  a  public  writer,  we 
will  never  cease  to  cry  aloud,  '  Let  us  save  our  country — let  us  save 
our  country ! ' ' 

Nothing  would  more  forcibly  illustrate  the  rapid  encroachment  of 
despotism  in  the  Island  than  the  publication  of  a  document  like  the 
above,  or  anything  discreditable,  or  disparaging  to  the  slave- dealers. 
Whoever  should  dare  make  the  experiment,  would  most  certainly  do 
it  at  the  risk  of  his  life.  Further  comment  on  the  progress  of  tyranny 
is  unnecessary. 


CHAPTER  XXIIL 
A  Wily  Old  General. 

NOT  to  lose  sight  of  the  order  of  events,  it  must  be  borne  ic 
mind  that  immediately  after  the  overthrow  of  the  constitu 
tion,  and  precisely  at  the  time  the  persecution  for  revolution 
ary  opinions  commenced  under  the  order  of  1825,  the  country  was 
in  its  most  flourishing  and  healthy  period.  The  fruits  of  the  several 
acts  for  promoting  the  country's  welfare  and  the  development  of  its 
resources,  which  owed  their  origin  to  corporations,  before  they  had 
lost  their  vitality,  had  been  gathered.  Moreover,  the  judicious  and 
liberal  policy  already  described  was  continued  by  the  intendant,  who 
could  then  act  with  great  independence.  As  chief  of  the  financial 
department,  the  Count  de  Villanueva  regulated  the  mode  of  keeping 
accounts,  corrected  abuses,  introduced  greater  simplicity  in  the  col 
lection  of  taxes,  and  established  several  facilities  beneficial  to  the 
merchants. 

By  means  of  his  great  influence  at  Madrid,  he  was  enabled  to 
supersede  the  captain-general  in  the  presidency  of  the  consulado,  and 
directing  the  labors  of  that  body,  he  made  them  subserve  the  develop 
ment  and  improvement  of  the  country.  Availing  himself  of  the 
general  wealth,  and  of  the  increasing  agriculture  of  the  Island,  he 
daringly  taxed  its  products  ,  and  it  is  generally  believed  that  it  was 
during  his  administration,  taxes  of  various  kinds  were  imposed  for 
the  first  time  without  the  consent  of  those  to  be  affected  by  them. 
He  represented  "  de  facto  "  the  people  of  Cuba ;  was  thechief  fiscal 
agent ;  the  friend  and  adviser  of  the  captain-general ;  the  favorite  of 
Ferdinand's  government. 

A  skillful  and  mighty  authority  like  his  could,  at  such  a  period, 
draw  abundant  resources  from  the  country  for  the  metropolis,  and 
promote  at  the  same  time  the  interests  of  the  former  by  reforming 

806 


A  WILY  OLD   GENERAL.  307 

abuses.  To  both  these  objects  were  his  exertions  successfully 
directed.  To  his  discriminating  judgment  it  was  very  evident  that  a 
vast  territory,  capable  of  great  agricultural  production,  could  not 
maintain  its  position,  much  less  make  progress,  should  its  commerce 
be  again  limited  to  the  mother-country.  He  was  aware  that  the 
probable  results  of  such  limitation  would  be  the  total  annihilation  of 
the  surplus  revenue,  of  which  they  were  so  desirous  at  court ;  the 
immediate  paralysis  of  agriculture,  the  fountain  of  the  Island's  wealth; 
and  a  very  extensive  contraband  trade. 

Public  Improvements. 

Villaneuva  had  the  waters  of  the  Husille  brought  into  the  city 
by  a  well-devised  though  costly  plan  ;  the  roads  near  Havana  maca 
damized,  and  a  mud-machine  erected  to  clear  the  anchorage  and 
preserve  the  wharves.  He  established  the  more  modern  and  rational 
system  "of  selling  at  auction  to  the  lowest  bidder  the  performance  of 
various  services,  particularly  for  the  government  or  the  public.  He 
enlarged  the  Spanish  navy  from  the  navy-yard  of  Havana ;  the 
regular  intercourse  between  the  two  countries  by  mail  packets  was 
his  suggestion,  and  the  Guines  railroad  is  a  crowning,  ever-memor 
able  and  enduring  monument  of  his  enterprise  and  genius. 

Amidst  these  improvements,  beneficial  to  Spain  and  the  Island, 
the  count  was  enabled  to  make  frequent  and  heavy  remittances  to 
the  general  treasury  in  Spain,  which  was  so  received  by  them  that 
the  demands  were  gradually  augmented  without  any  regard  to  the 
means  of  meeting  them,  and  the  inevitable  consequence  was  the 
sacrifice  of  the  necessities  of  the  Island  to  the  urgency  of  their  pay 
ment.  Thus  it  happened  that  the  Bank  of  St.  Ferdinand,  the  estab 
lishment  of  which  was  one  of  the  acts  which  do  honor  to  Villanueva, 
had  no  opportunity  of  doing  any  service  to  the  public,  as  its  capital 
was  specially  sent  for  from  Madrid. 

In  brief,  Count  Villanueva's  administration  can  in  no  way  be  better 
appreciated  than  by  bearing  in  mind  that  whatever  liberal  and  en 
lightened  views  he  carried  into  practical  effect,  he  had  nothing  similar 
to  guide  him  or  excite  his  emulation  in  all  the  Spanish  territory. 


308  A  WILY  OLD   GENERAL. 

His  power  in  Cuba  was  great,  his  influence  in  Madrid  had  no  equal, 
and  his  credit  abroad  was  such  that  his  promise  and  acceptance  was 
a  source  of  revenue  at  court.  The  authority  of  the  Captain-General 
himself  being  eclipsed  by  his,  it  is  certainly  no  matter  of  surprise  that 
public  bodies  and  individuals  should  have  sunk  into  insignificance. 

It  was  in  such  a  state  of  political  weakness  and  general  prosperity 
that  the  enactment  concerning  the  holding  of  property,  which  was 
the  first  liberal  act  of  Christina's  regency,  found  Cuba.  Under  it  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Island  observed,  as  they  always  had  done,  the  laws 
promulgated  in  the  mother  country.  A  number  of  members  were 
added  to  the  municipalities,  equal  to  the  number  of  hereditary  mem 
bers,  and  the  former  were  by  express  proviso  to  be  individuals  who 
were  highest  on  the  tax  list.  Thus  formed,  these  corporations  elected 
the  deputies  who  represented  the  interests  of  the  Island  at  the  Spanish 
Congress. 

Deprived  of  Deputies  to  Madrid. 

This  slight  political  change,  which  enabled  the  corporations  of 
Havana,  Santiago  de  Cuba,  and  Puerto  Principe  to  name  three  depu 
ties  in  the  "estamentos  "  without  other  free  institutions,  was  certainly 
not  calculated  to  alarm  the  royal  authority,  however  jealous  it  might 
be  supposed.  Three  votes,  more  or  less,  could  not  of  course  cause 
any  uneasiness  ;  but  it  is  ever  the  consequence  of  free  institutions,  in 
just  proportion  to  their  worth,  to  diminish  the  importance  of  individ 
uals.  Here,  then,  was  one  of  the  causes  of  that  strenuous  opposition 
so  successfully  exerted  to  deprive  the  Island  of  deputies  to  Madrid. 

Such  a  refusal,  where  there  is  an  immense  amount  of  productive 
capital  to  be  benefited  or  injured,  or  destroyed  by  the  enactments  of 
government,  and  where  the  colony  is  not  even  allowed  delegates  to 
represent  its  interests  at  court,  has  no  parallel  in  any  civilized  country 
professing  to  approve  of  liberal  institutions. 

The  Island  was  at  that  time  governed  by  General  Tacon,  whose 
short-sighted,  narrow  views,  and  jealous  and  weak  mind,  were  joined 
to  an  uncommon  stubbornness  of  character.  Never  satiated  with 
power,  it  was  through  his  influence  that  the  wealthy  portion  of  the 
community  was  divested  of  the  privileges  conferred  on  them  by  the 


A  WILY  OLD    GENERAL.  309 

estatuto.     He  even  deprived  the  old  municipalities  of  Havana  of  the 
faculty  of  naming  the  under-commissaries  of  police. 

In  his  own  immodest  report  of  his  reign,  as  it  was  justly  termed, 
he  enumerated  the  very  extensive  and  costly  buildings  and  public 
works  he  had  constructed,  and  from  the  singular  manner  in  which  he 
accounts  for  procuring  the  ordinary  means,  we  must  suppose  he  had 
the  power  of  working  miracles.  To  sustain  his  absolute  government 
by  trampling  on  every  institution,  was  the  necessary  consequence  of 
his  first  violent  and  unjustifiable  act.  It  was  consequential  upon  his 
own  and  his  followers'  efforts. 

Outrages  on  Personal  Liberty. 

For  any  power,  any  institution,  not  dependent  on  the  palace  of  the 
captain-general,  might  be  the  means  of  denouncing  abuses,  of  expos 
ing  the  real  deformity  of  his  and  their  pretended  patriotism ;  and 
the  numberless  parasites  whose  interest  ever  was  to  blind  the  royal 
eyes,  magnified  the  virtues  of  their  hero,  while  they  were  rapidly 
accumulating  fortunes  at  his  side.  In  order  to  obtain  credit  in  the 
management  of  the  police,  he  displayed  a  despotic  and  even  brutal 
activity  in  the  mode  of  exacting  from  the  under-officers,  distributed 
in  the  several  wards  of  the  city,  under  personal  responsibility,  the 
apprehension  and  summary  prosecution  of  criminals.  They  soon 
found  that  there  would  be  no  complaint,  provided  they  acted  vigor 
ously  and  brought  up  prisoners.  So  far  from  presuming  their  inno 
cence,  or  requiring  proof  of  their  crimes,  those  who  were  once 
arrested  were  put  to  the  negative  and  difficult  task  of  proving  their 
innocence.  The  more  unwarrantable  the  acts  of  his  subalterns  the 
more  acceptable  to  him,  since  they,  in  his  opinion,  exhibited  the 
energy  of  his  authority.  They  trembled  in  his  presence,  and  left  it 
to  persecute,  to  invent  accusations,  to  imprison,  and  spread  terror 
and  desolation  among  the  families  of  the  land  ! 

It  is  but  just  to  add,  that  the  banditti  and  thieves  and  professed 
gamblers  were  terrified  by  his  sweeping  scythe,  and  became  much 
more  modest  than  they  had  been  during  the  brief  government  of  the 
weak  and  infirm  General  Roquefort,  the  predecessor  of  Tacon.  The 


310  A  WILY   OLD   GENERAL. 

timid  and  short-sighted  merchant  who  perceived  this  reform,  did  not 
comprehend  or  appreciate  the  illegality  of  the  system,  nor  its  per 
nicious  effects  on  the  future  destinies  of  the  country,  and  was  the 
first  to  justify  the  man  who  dared  interpose  himself  between  the 
Spanish  monarchs  and  their  subjects,  to  silence  every  complaint  of 
the  latter,  and  to  say  to  the  former,  "  You  shall  never  hear  the  peti 
tions  of  your  American  vassals  contrary  to  my  pleasure." 

The  political  servitude  at  that  moment  implanted  in  the  country 
was  new,  and  of  course  excited  discontent,  which  was  not  unfrequently 
vented  in  the  random  conversation  of  young  men. 

Poor  Carlist  Prisoners. 

The  consequence  of  all  this  was,  a  regular  system  of  espionage. 
The  prisoners  were  distributed  in  the  castles,  because  the  jails  were 
insufficient  to  contain  them.  In  the  dungeons  were  lodged  nearly  six 
hundred  persons,  the  cause  of  whose  detention  nobody  knew  ;  a  fact 
authentically  proved  by  a  casual  circumstance.  In  the  streets,  in  the 
highways  and  fortresses,  under  a  scorching  sun,  and  during  the 
unhealthy  season,  the  poor  Carlist  prisoners,  having  surrendered 
themselves,  trusting  to  the  faith  of  liberals,  were  suffered  to  sicken 
and  sink  miserably  into  a  premature  grave. 

Let  it  not  be  supposed,  however,  that  his  political  persecution  was 
confined  to  the  enemies  of  the  liberal  institutions  then  existing  in 
Madrid.  The  contrary  may  be  adduced  from  the  inconsiderate  pro 
tection  extended  by  him  to  the  famous  friar  Cirilo  Almeda,  of  whose 
machinations  he  appeared  to  approve,  and  from  the  fact  that  events 
favorable  to  the  queen  were  at  a  certain  period  not  permitted  to 
appear  in  the  distorted  press  of  Havana. 

His  creed  was  soon  ascertained.  He  considered  those  whom  he 
thought  likely  to  tear  the  veil  from  his  tyranny,  the  veritable  traitors, 
the  enemies  of  the  throne,  and  the  advocates  of  independence  in 
Cuba.  He  destroyed  all  freedom  of  discussion  in  the  municipal 
body,  usurped  its  powers,  and  frightened  away  such  members  as  he 
thought  would  not  bend  sufficiently  to  his  will.  He  constructed  an 
enormously  high,  massive,  level  road  through  the  widest  avenue  of 


A   WILY  OLD    GENERAL.  311 

the  city,  which  has  since  been  removed,  at  the  expense  of  the  same 
suffering  community  who  had  to  pay  for  its  erection,  and  to  suffer  its 
unhealthy  effects  while  it  remained. 

General  Tacon  moreover  established  a  privileged  market  for  selling 
meat  and  fish,  to  the  detriment  of  the  public  and  the  public  revenue, 
and  for  the  profit  of  himself  and  his  nearest  friends.  Among  other 
things  it  will  there  be  seen  how  a  man  living  at  the  table  and  board 
of  Tacon,  was  subsequently  found  to  be  interested  in  the  contract 
for  the  meat  and  fish  market,  without  its  being  absolutely  binding 
on  him  to  perform  the  condition  of  paying  in  his  amount  of 
stock  in  order  to  be  entitled  to  his  share  of  the  profits,  which  he 
did  nevertheless  receive. 

A  System  of  Robbery. 

It  will  likewise  be  found  that  the  party  to  that  contract  was  illegally 
preferred  to  the  more  regular  bidders.  It  may  further  be  ascertained 
from  that  work  that  when  the  contractors  obtained  the  grant  and 
commenced  exacting  unauthorized  fees,  to  the  great  injury  of  the 
public,  a  suit  was  instituted  to  investigate  and  reform  the  abuse  at 
the  tribunal  of  one  of  the  alcaldes,  and  that  the  record  was  claimed 
and  taken  possession  of  by  Tacon,  who  was  charged  with  causing  it 
to  disappear,  as  it  was  stated  in  his  successor  General  Espeleta's 
official  answer,  that  it  was  not  to  be  found  in  the  archives  of  the  cap 
tain-generalship. 

Notwithstanding  General  Tacon's  efforts  at  the  first  election  under 
the  estatuto,  the  voice  of  his  Excellency  Don  Juan  Montalvo  y  Cas 
tillo  was  raised  in  Madrid  at  the  Cortes,  and  the  misconduct  of  the 
former  partially  exposed.  As  it  continued,  Messrs.  Armas  and  Saco 
were  named  for  the  second  congress  during  his  government,  both 
very  enlightened  and  able  men,  well  acquainted  with  the  circum 
stances,  and  friendly  to  the  welfare  of  the  Island,  and  as  much 
opposed  to  the  ultra-liberal  or  revolutionary  ideas  as  desirous  of 
removing  from  the  Spanish  peninsular  government  the  shame  and 
discredit  of  such  lawless  proceedings  on  the  part  of  the  chief  metro 
politan  authority. 


312  A  WILY   OLD    GENERAL. 

To  discover  imagined  conspiracies,  to  commence  suits  blindly 
approved  by  his  assessor,  to  expatriate,  to  vex,  to  imprison  the 
citizens,  these  were  Tacon's  noble  exploits.  His  artful  reports  found 
credit  at  court.  He  was  therefore  continued  in  his  government,  and 
the  Spanish  Cortes  in  1836,  by  a  majority  exceeding  thirteen  votes, 
shut  their  doors,  which  had  always  been  opened  to  American  repre 
sentatives,  against  the  deputies  of  the  Island,  then  elected  and  at 
Madrid.  They  were  obliged  to  return  without  being  allowed  the 
privilege  of  uttering  their  grievances.  This  was  the  single  but  serious 
act  of  usurpation  which  robbed  the  descendants  of  the  Island's  con 
querors  of  all  interference  in  its  administration  and  tributary  system. 

Some  time  after  the  oath  to  the  constitution  had  been  taken  at 
Madrid  in  1837,  the  Spanish  General  Lorenzo,  commanding  in  St. 
Jago,  encouraged  by  the  encomiums  and  rewards  conferred  in  former 
times  and  in  similar  instances,  on  such  authorities  as  first  followed 
the  impulse  given  at  the  court  of  a  political  change,  thought  it  his 
duty  to  conform  to  the  plan  most  approved  by  all  parties,  royalist  or 
liberal,  viz. :  to  repeat  the  cry  raised  at  the  seat  of  government. 

Brazen  Display  of  Authority. 

He  therefore  proclaimed  the  constitution.  The  wily  old  general 
who  had  so  successfully  deprived  the  country  of  all  representative  or 
delegate  system,  would  not  of  course  very  quietly  allow  his  fabric  to 
be  leveled  to  the  ground.  He  made  an  ostentatious  display  of  his 
authority,  and  though  well  satisfied  of  the  pacific  views  of  the  eastern 
part  of  the  Island,  insisted  upon  fitting  out  an  expensive  expedition, 
which  cost  the  inhabitants  more  than  $500,000,  and  would  have  it 
proceed,  notwithstanding  that  the  commissioners  sent  by  Lorenzo 
made  a  formal  promise  that  the  eastern  part  of  the  Island  should  pre 
serve  their  system  until  the  Queen  decided,  or  would  obey  at  once 
Tacon's  order  to  annul  the  constitution,  provided  an  amnesty  were 
granted  for  the  single  act  of  proclaiming  the  same,  their  sole  offence. 

General  Tacon  again  made  use  of  his  favorite  weapon  against  the 
Islanders,  applying  it  to  General  Lorenzo  and  the  intendant  of 
Havana,  by  perfidious  suggestions  calculated  to  impair  their  well- 


A   WILY   OLD   GENERAL,  313 

proven  loyalty  to  their  sovereign.  Such  improbable  stories,  the  ill- 
disguised  animosity  of  his  passionate  language,  the  cognizance  by 
some  impartial  Peninsular  tribunals  of  some  of  his  grossly-imagined 
plans  of  conspiracy,  all  had  an  influence  to  force  the  Spanish  court 
to  acknowledge,  without,  for  reasons  of  policy,  publicly  avowing  it, 
the  irregular  and  disorderly  course  of  Tacon's  administration,  and  he 
was  removed  from  office. 

The  removal  of  General  Tacon  is  said  to  have  been  effected  by  a 
compromise  between  the  ministry  and  Olivar,  acting  as  agent  for 
Villaneuva,  in  which  the  rights  of  the  Cubans  were  sacrificed  to  the 
latter's  personal  ambition.  It  was  then  agreed  that  no  political 
assembly,  or  any  rights  whatever,  should  be  allowed  the  Cubans,  but 
that  Tacon  should  be  removed.  This  discreditable  compromise  was 
the  undoubted  origin  of  the  immediate  discontent  and  subsequent 
rapid  adoption  of  the  principle  of  annexation  through  the  Island. 
Nothing  was  more  efficient  in  drawing  the  mask  from  his  face  than 
the  unskillfulness  of  Joaquin  Valdez,  his  standing  conspiracy-witness 
and  confidential  agent,  who  in  framing  one  of  his  plans  got  into  a 
strange  dilemma  by  apprehending  the  intendant  of  Cadiz,  and  other 
respectable  old  Spaniards,  supposed  to  be  concerned  in  the  plot. 

It  should  be  mentioned,  to  the  honor  of  the  Spanish  name,  that  at 
the  subsequent  sittings  of  the  Cortes,  and  before  the  removal  of 
Tacon,  as  if  the  injuries  which  had  been  inflicted  on  Cuba  called  for 
immediate  redress,  it  was  generally  admitted  as  a  matter  of  course, 
what  has  since  been  artfully  withdrawn  from  the  sight  of  the  con 
gress,  that  the  political  condition  of  that  distant  colony  should  be 
attended  to  and  ameliorated  without  delay. 

A  generous  and  high-minded  Spaniard,  Don  Antonio  Benavide, 
equally  loyal  to  his  country  and  desirous  of  the  welfare  of  its  inhabi 
tants,  clearly  and  ably  insisted  upon  the  adoption  of  any  system  in 
lieu  of  the  omnipotence  of  the  Captain-General.  But  the  zeal  and 
high  sense  of  justice  entertained  by  the  congress  could  give  no  relief, 
where  the  agents  of  the  local  government  were  active,  and  the 
oppressed  country  had  no  delegates  to  maintain  her  rights. 

The  only  result  was  a  royal  order  authorizing  Tacon  to  call  a  junta. 


314  A   WILY   OLD    GENERAL. 

which  he  took  care  should  be  formed  to  his  liking  generally,  com 
posed  of  authorities  named  by  government,  in  its  pay,  with  three  or 
four  private  individuals  among  the  general's  pliant  tools.  This  junta 
was  to  propose  special  laws  for  the  government  of  the  Island.  The 
consequence  was  exactly  what  might  have  been  expected.  The  chief 
soon  perceived  that,  however  yielding  the  members  might  be,  they 
must  draw  up  some  rules  ostensibly  to  restrain  his  untamed  will,  or 
excite  the  ridicule  of  even  the  Spanish  court. 

After  calling  together  and  dispersing  them  instantly,  under  a  show 
of  separating  them  into  committees,  he  rendered  the  whole  attempt 
inefficient,  and  feigning  fear  of  danger  from  the  plots  of  the  white 
population,  caused  every  feeling  of  justice  to  Cuba  to  be  forgotten  in 
Spain.  The  only  proposition  which  seems  to  have  transpired  from 
the  sitting  of  that  strange,  transitory,  and  expensive  junta,  was  to 
make  the  Island  a  vice-royalty  and  Tacon  vice-king.  Ludicrous  as 
as  it  may  appear,  it  is  no  less  true. 

Black  Men  in  British  Uniform. 

Notwithstanding  it  was  under  free  institutions  that  Spain  granted 
the  establishment  of  the  mixed  Anglo-Spanish  tribunal  at  Havana, 
for  the  cognizance  of  prizes  taken  from  the  African  trade,  it  was 
when  the  public  bodies  of  the  Island  were  without  sufficient  energy 
to  raise  their  spontaneous  protest  on  political  questions,  that  the  Cas- 
tilian  name  was  humbled  by  the  floating  fortress  which  the  English 
anchored  in  the  port  of  Havana,  as  a  rallying  signal  for  the  blacks, 
openly  and  malignantly  avowed,  and  sufficiently  evident  from  the 
fact  that  it  was  manned  by  black  men  in  British  uniform. 

These  soldiers,  distributed  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  the  greater 
number  liberated  from  slave-ships  by  the  tribunal,  who  both  during 
and  subsequently  to  their  apprenticeship  were  left  in  the  country  in 
direct  communication  with  their  bond-brethren,  were  the  first  instru 
ments  of  spreading  discontent  among  the  slave  population.  Very 
far  from  independent,  and  from  representing  the  interest  of  the 
wealthy  planters,  must  have  been  the  public  bodies  of  the  Island, 
who  thus  patiently  saw  the  germs  of  violent  insurrection  sown  broad- 


A  WILY   OLD   GENERAL.  314 

cast  over  the   land,  without   most   earnestly  assailing  the    Spanish 
ministry  with  their  complaints. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  about  the  year  1835  that  tht  dispropor 
tion  of  the  races  became  alarming.  In  1837  General  Tacon  received 
an  official  communication  from  Madrid,  enclosing  a  copy  of  a  note 
from  the  Spanish  minister  at  Washington,  containing  a  vivid  picture 
of  the  dangers  to  Cuba  from  the  abolition  efforts  making  in  the 
United  States  and  generally  all  over  the  world.  He  who  had  heed 
lessly  given  new  life  and  development  to  the  policy  which  Vives  had 
only  partially  unfolded,  and  which  consisted  in  separating  the  old 
Spaniards  from  the  natives,  was  now  made  to  feel  that  the  co-opera 
tion  of  the  country's  bourgeoisie,  in  all  their  united  effort,  was  requi 
site  to  oppose  the  encroachments  of  the  abolitionists. 

Immediate  Danger. 

The  exposition  of  the  minister  at  Washington,  though  abounding 
with  contradictory  opinions,  was,  in  the  main,  exact.  It  predicted 
immediate  danger.  No  public  bodies  existing  which  could  be  con 
sidered  as  emanating  even  indirectly  from  the  people,  rich  or  poor,  he 
having  discredited  and  crushed  all  such  institutions,  what  could  he 
do  ?  He  contrived  to  call  a  general  meeting  of  the  planters  in  the 
city  of  Matanzas,  whose  very  judicious  report  provided  for  domestic 
and  rural  government,  material  defence,  and  funds  to  carry  their  plans 
into  effect.  The  colonization  of  the  Island  by  white  inhabitants, 
which  had  been  unlawfully  terminated,  was  demanded  by  this  meet 
ing  of  planters,  who  also  insisted  upon  the  establishment  of  a  rural 
militia. 

In  consequence  of  these  requisitions,  their  resolutions  on  the  first 
were  not  carried  into  execution.  The  immigration  of  whites  has 
been  materially  obstructed  by  an  influential  party,  who  consider  it 
hostile  to  the  introduction  of  laborers  more  consonant  to  their  taste 
and  interest.  General  Valdez  was  latterly  named  captain-general,  an 
honest  and  generous  soldier,  whose  memory  is  still  dear  to  the  liberal 
party  in  Spain,  wearing  many  honorable  marks  of  worth,  grey  in  the 
service  of  his  country,  but  his  capacity  undoubtedly  impaired  by  age, 


316  A   WILY   OLD    GENERAL. 

joined  to  a  general  ignorance  of  the  colonies  and  of  political  affairs, 
common  to  all  the  military  as  a  class. 

A  person  observing  the  progress  of  English  pretensions  respecting 
Cuba,  would  certainly  conclude  that  Lord  Palmerston  had  himself 
chosen  such  a  man,  who,  though  beyond  the  reach  of  bribery,  and 
incapable  of  willful  wrong  to  his  country,  was,  from  his  weakness,  a 
suitable  and  manageable  instrument.  Let  it,  however,  be  said  in  his 
praise,  that  he  had  occasion  to  show  that  when  the  captain-general 
should  choose  to  put  an  end  to  the  slave  trade,  it  would  be  in  his 
power  to  do  so. 

Soon  after  his  arrival,  a  series  of  by-laws  made  for  the  government 
of  the  slaves  was  published,  wherein,  instead  of  providing  for  the  real 
circumstances  of  the  occasion,  the  dominical  rights  of  the  master 
were  suddenly  attacked,  yet  not  so  much,  perhaps,  by  their  positive 
provisos,  as  by  the  appearance  of  interference  at  a  period  when  the 
restlessness  and  uneasiness  of  the  blacks  required  measures  of  an 
entirely  contrary  nature.  The  management  of  a  slave  country  is 
always  a  difficult  matter.  To  avoid  the  commission  of  great  errors, 
in  the  condition  of  Cuba,  would  have  been  scarcely  less  than 
miraculous. 

The  actual  feelings  of  the  blacks  could  not,  with  certainty,  be 
ascertained  by  individuals  who  had  either  recently  arrived  from 
Spain,  or  never  attended  on  the  estates  but  for  a  few  moments,  or 
during  excursions  of  pleasure.  Thus  it  happened,  that  many  judi 
cious  planters,  judging  from  the  small  and  gradual  changes  in  the 
domestic  life  of  the  blacks,  foresaw  the  coming  storm  for  years,  while 
the  government  agent  could  not  comprehend,  and  resolutely  refuted, 
such  opinions  as  they  thought  unnecessarily  alarming,  and  decidedly 
against  their  interest  in  the  African  trade. 

Mr.  Turnbull,  the  English  consul,  who,  from  his  European  reputa 
tion,  would  never  have  been  allowed  to  occupy  the  post  of  consul  at 
Cuba,  had  the  Cuban  proprietors  had  an  organ  of  complaint,  other 
than  the  government  agents,  concerted  incendiary  plots,  and  boldly 
followed  them,  notwithstanding  the  timely  interference  of  Garcia,  one 
of  the  governors  of  the  city  of  Matanzas. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 
Record  of  Atrocious  Deeds. 

EVERAL  incidents  might  be  named,  evident  precursors  of  an 
insurrection,  which,  for  many  years  before  the  repeated 
attempts,  demanded  a  change  in  the  system  of  the  whole 
Island  ;  a  change  which  would  have  taken  place  under  a  government 
having  the  means  and  disposition  to  ascertain  the  true  state  of  things, 

For  the  better  understanding  of  the  subject,  it  must  be  remem 
bered  that  the  ancient  balance  of  influence  established  by  the  Spanish 
law  between  the  military  class  and  the  judicial  or  lettered  part  of  the 
community,  had  been  altogether  lost;  the  former  having  been 
intrusted  with  every  tjranch  of  the  administration,  even  to  the  making 
of  by-laws  for  the  black  slave  population,  which  was  submitted  to 
the  control  of  government  agents,  perhaps  under  the  direction  of 
their  allies,  the  slave-dealers. 

At  the  same  time  an  ominous  policy  commenced  ;  the  colored 
inhabitants  were  particularly  favored ;  had  numerous  meetings,  called 
cabildos,  and  enjoyed  even  greater  privileges  than  the  whites — being 
formed  into  military  bodies  for  public  defence,  whereas  the  whites 
could  not  form  a  militia  for  their  own  safety,  even  in  moments  of 
pressing  danger,  and  in  those  places  where  the  disproportion  of  the 
races  was  most  frightful. 

Laws  were  enacted  purporting  to  alleviate  the  condition  of  the 
slaves ;  an  apparent  protection,  calculated  more  to  harass  the  owner 
than  to  realize  the  improvement  of  the  former,  without  any  attempt 
to  instruct  either.  This  was  acompanied  with  the  continuation  of 
the  slave  trade,  and  the  barbarous  political  oppression  of  the  native 
Creoles,  whose  every  thought  was  looked  upon  with  jealous  suspicion. 
It  seemed  evident  that  the  policy  consisted  in  placing  the  lives  and 
property  of  the  inhabitants  of  Cuba  in  such  imminent  danger  as  to 

317 


318  RECORD    OF  ATROCIOUS   DEEDS. 

choke  any  feeling  of  resentment  respecting  the  political  changes 
which  the  Spanish  government  adopted  for  the  exclusive  advantage 
of  the  metropolitan  part  of  the  community. 

Thus  was  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  blacks  fostered.  How  else  can 
be  explained  the  cause  of  the  progress  made  in  the  Island  in  that 
respect,  and  not  in  those  slave-holding  countries  which  surround  it, 
and  which,  having  a  more  frightful  disproportion  in  numbers  between 
the  races,  and  greater  freedom  in  the  press  and  institutions,  were 
withal  enjoying  comparative  tranquillity  ? 

Threatened  War  of  Races. 

The  bonds  between  master  and  slave  were  gradually  severed ;  the 
affections  destroyed ;  the  mutual  relations  of  the  races,  for  which  the 
Spaniards  had  been  always  distinguished,  were  broken ;  and  while 
every  one  deprecated  the  perilous  situation  of  the  Cubans,  the  latter 
continued  unarmed;  the  slave  trade  augmented  the  causes  of  fear; 
and  no  moral  reform  was  adopted  to  soften  the  harsh  features  and 
discordant  views  of  the  subjected  or  of  the  dominant  race.  It  seemed 
as  if  occasional  ruptures,  which  should  awaken  the  natives  to  a  sense 
of  danger,  were  the  most  acceptable  offering  to  the  administration. 

Such  did  come  to  pass  from  time  to  time  ;  what  was  the  nature 
of  these  disturbances  can,  perhaps,  be  best  understood  by  the 
following  extract  from  the  work  of  the  Countess  of  Merlin,  entitled 
"  The  Slaves  in  the  Spanish  Colonies  ;  "  who,  though  not  a  solid 
writer,  has  a  style  which  savors  of  her  sex,  and  is  quite  entertaining. 
She  wrote  somewhere  about  1840: 

"  The  suavity  of  manner  of  the  Cuban  toward  his  slave  inspires 
the  latter  with  a  respectful  feeling,  which  is  akin  to  worship :  there  is 
no  limit  to  this  affection ;  he  would  murder  his  master's  enemy 
publicly  in  the  streets  at  mid-day,  and  would  perish  for  his  sake 
under  torture,  without  giving  a  wink.  To  the  slave,  his  master  is 
his  country  and  his  family.  The  slave  takes  the  family  name  of  his 
lord ;  receives  his  children  at  their  birth  ;  shares  with  them  the  food 
which  was  prepared  by  nature  in  female  breasts ;  serves  them  in 
humble  adoration  from  earliest  infancy. 


RECORD  OF  ATROCIOUS  DEEDS. 

"  If  the  master  is  sick,  the  slave  watches  over  him  day  and  night ; 
closes  his  eyes  in  death,  and  when  this  takes  place,  throws  himself 
sorrowfully  on  the  ground,  cries  wofully,  and  with  his  nails  rends  his 
own  flesh  in  despair.  But  if  a  vindictive  feeling  is  awakened  in  his 
bosom,  he  recovers  his  natural  ferocity ;  he  is  equally  ardent  in  his 
hatred  and  in  his  love;  but  very  seldom  does  it  happen  that  his 
master  is  the  object  of  his  revengeful  fury. 

"  When  an  insurrection  is  not  excited  by  foreigners  (which,  by  the 
by,  is  not  often  the  case),  the  cause  of  it  may  be  traced  to  violent 
enmity  toward  the  overseer.  Here  is  a  fact  which  proves  the  moral 
influence  of  the  masters  over  the  minds  of  these  savages.  A  few 
months  previous  to  my  arrival,  the  blacks  of  the  sugar  estates  of  my 
cousin,  Don  Rafael,  became  insurrected.  The  slaves  lately  imported 
from  Africa  were  mostly  of  the  Luccoomee  tribe,  and  therefore  excel 
lent  workmen,  but  of  a  violent,  unwieldly  temper,  and  always  ready 
to  hang  themselves  at  the  slightest  opposition  in  their  way. 

Protected  by  Slaves. 

"  It  was  just  after  the  bell  had  struck  five,  and  the  dawn  of  the 
morning  was  scarcely  visible.  Don  Rafael  had  gone  over  to  another 
of  his  estates,  within  half  an  hour  before,  leaving  behind  him,  and 
still  in  tranquil  slumbers,  his  four  children  and  his  wife,  who  was  in 
a  state  of  pregnancy.  Of  a  sudden  the  latter  awakes,  terrified  by 
hideous  cries,  and  the  sound  of  hurried  steps.  She  jumps  affrighted 
from  her  bed,  and  observes  that  all  the  negroes  of  the  estate  are 
making  their  way  to  the  house.  She  is  instantly  surrounded  by  her 
children,  weeping  and  crying  at  her  side. 

"  Being  attended  solely  by  slaves,  she  thought  herself  inevitably 
lost ;  but  scarcely  had  she  time  to  canvass  these  ideas  in  her  distracted 
mind,  when  one  of  her  negro  girls  came  in,  saying,  c  Child,  your 
bounty  need  have  no  fears ;  we  have  fastened  all  the  doors,  and 
Michael  is  gone  for  master.'  Her  companions  placed  themselves  on 
all  sides  of  their  female  owner,  while  the  rebels  advanced,  tossing 
from  hand  to  hand  among  themselves,  a  bloody  corpse,  with  cries  as 
awful  as  the  hissing  of  the  serpent  in  the  desert. 


320  RECORD   OF  ATROCIOUS   DEEDS. 

"  The  negro  girls  exclaimed,  '  That's  the  overseer's  body ! '  The 
rebels  were  already  at  the  door,  when  Pepilla  (this  is  the  name  of  the 
lady),  saw  the  carriage  of  her  husband  coming  at  full  speed.  That 
sweet  soul,  who,  until  that  moment,  had  valiantly  awaited  death,  was 
now  overpowered  at  the  sight  of  her  husband  coming  unarmed 
toward  the  infuriated  mob,  and  she  fainted. 

"  In  the  meantime,  Rafael  descends  from  the  vehicle,  places  himself 
in  front  of  them,  and  with  only  one  severe  look,  and  a  single  sign  oi 
the  hand,  designates  the  purging  house  for  them  to  go  to.  The  slaves 
suddenly  become  silent,  abandon  the  dead  body  of  their  overseer, 
and,  with  downcast  faces,  still  holding  their  field-swords  in  their  hands, 
they  turn  round  and  enter  where  they  had  been  ordered  Well 
might  it  be  said,  that  they  beheld  in  the  man  who  stood  before  them 
the  exterminating  angel. 

A  Last  Effort  for  Life. 

"Although  the  movement/'  the  countess  continues,  "had  for  a  mo 
ment  subsided,  Rafael,  who  was  not  aware  of  its  cause,  and  feared  the 
results,  selected  the  opportunity  to  hurry  his  family  away  from  the 
danger.  The  quitrin,  or  vehicle  of  the  country,  could  not  hold  more 
than  two  persons,  and  it  would  have  been  imprudent  to  wait  till  more 
conveyances  were  in  readiness.  Pepilla  and  the  children  were  placed 
in  it  in  the  best  possible  manner;  and  they  were  on  the  point  of  start 
ing,  when  a  man,  covered  with  wounds,  with  a  haggard,  death-like 
look,  approached  the  wheels  of  the  quitrin,  as  if  he  meant  to  climb 
by  them. 

"  In  his  pale  face  the  marks  of  despair  and  the  symptoms  of  death 
could  be  traced,  and  fear  and  bitter  anguish  were  the  feelings  which 
agitated  his  soul  in  the  last  moments  of  his  life.  He  was  the  white 
accountant,  who  had  been  nearly  murdered  by  the  blacks,  and  having 
escaped  from  their  ferocious  hold,  was  making  the  last  efforts  to  save 
a  mere  breath  of  life.  His  cries,  his  prayers,  were  calculated  to  make 
the  heart  faint.  Rafael  found  himself  in  the  cruel  alternative  of  being 
deaf  to  the  request  of  a  dying  man,  or  throwing  his  bloody  and  ex 
piring  corpse  over  his  children ;  his  pity  conquered ;  the  accountant 


RECORD   OF  ATROCIOUS   DEEDS.  321 

was  placed  in  the  carriage  as  well  as  might  be,  and  it  moved  away 
from  the  spot. 

"  While  this  was  passing  on  the  estate  of  Rafael,  the  Marquis  of 
Cardenas,  Pepilla's  brother,  whose  plantations  were  two  leagues  off, 
who  had  been  apprised  through  a  slave  of  the  danger  with  which  his 
sister  was  threatened,  hastened  to  her  aid.  On  reaching  the  spot,  he 
noticed  a  number  of  rebels,  who,  impelled  by  a  remnant  of  rage,  or 
the  fear  of  punishment,  were  directing  their  course  to  the  open  plains, 
searching  for  safety  among  runaway  slaves.  The  Marquis  of  Carde 
nas,  whose  sense  of  the  danger  of  his  sister  had  induced  him  to  fly 
to  her  help,  had  brought  with  him,  in  the  hurry  of  the  moment,  no 
one  to  guard  his  person  except  a  single  slave. 

"  Scarcely  had  the  fugitive  band  perceived  a  white  man,  when  they 
went  toward  him.  The  marquis  stopped  his  course  and  prepared  to 
meef"  them;  it  was  a  useless  temerity  in  him  against  such  odds.  Turn 
ing  his  master's  horse  by  the  bridle,  his  own  slave  addressed  him 
thus  :  '  My  master,  let  your  bounty  get  away  from  here ;  let  me  come 
to  an  understanding  with  them.'  And  he  then  whipped  his  master's 
horse,  which  went  off  at  a  gallop. 

Fell  a  Victim  to  his  Devotedness. 

"  The  valiant  *  JOSE,'  for  his  name  is  as  worthy  of  being  remembered 
as  that  of  a  hero,  went  on  toward  the  savage  mob,  so  as  to  gain  time 
for  his  master  to  fly,  and  fell  a  victim  to  his  devotedness,  after  re 
ceiving  thirty-six  sword  blows.  This  rising,  which  had  not  been  pre 
meditated,  had  no  other  consequences.  It  had  originated  in  a  severe 
chastisement,  inflicted  by  the  overseer,  which  had  prompted  the  rebels 
to  march  toward  the  owner's  dwelling,  to  expound  their  complaint. 
They  begged  Rafael's  pardon,  which  was  granted,  with  the  exception 
of  two  or  three,  who  were  delivered  over  to  the  tribunals.  A  remark 
able  truth  .of  the  love  of  the  slaves  toward  their  lord,  is  the  fact  of 
their  stopping,  in  the  outset,  the  engine  which  was  at  the  time  grind 
ing,  and  preventing  the  explosion  which  would  otherwise  have  taken 
place. 

"  Not  only  do  the  inhabitants  of  Cuba  forward  the  emancipation  of 
21 


322  RECORD   OF  ATROCIOUS   DEEDS. 

their  slaves  by  procuring'  for  them  the  means  of  gaining  money,  IrA 
they  often  make  the  grant  without  any  retribution.  A  service  of  im 
portance,  a  mark  of  attachment,  the  act  of  nursing  the  master's  child, 
assiduous  care  during  the  last  illness,  or  the  priority  of  services  of 
an  old  member  of  the  family,  are  all  acts  rewarded  by  the  gift  of 
liberty.  Sometimes  the  slave  considers  this  benefit  as  a  punishment, 
and  receives  it  weeping." 

Anecdotes  of  Slaves. 

These  are  very  charming  ideas.  It  is  a  pity  that  the  countess 
should,  by  entering  continually  in  the  field  of  romance,  get  so  far 
from  the  regions  of  truth.  This  remark,  however,  applies,  in  the 
paragraphs  quoted,  only  to  the  assertion  that  the  slaves  in  any  case 
objected  to  being  made  free,  or  that  such  gifts  were  so  common. 
There  are  facts  both  pleasing  to  the  philanthropist  and  worthy  of 
credit.  The  following,  from  the  touching  pen  of  the  lady  of  Merlin, 
afford  a  happy  illustration  of  them : 

"  Though  the  slave  enjoys  the  right  of  holding  property,  at  his 
death  it  passes  to  the  master ;  but  if  he  leaves  children,  the  proprietor 
never  deprives  them  of  the  inheritance.  It  sometimes  happens  that 
the  free  negro  makes  his  will  in  favor  of  his  former  master.  Here  is 
an  example.  During  the  scourge  of  the  cholera,  an  old  woman  was 
attending  the  sick  negroes  of  my  brother.  She  had  continued  in  his 
service,  although  she  had  freed  herself  many  years  before. 

"  Being  taken  with  the  disease,  she  called  my  brother  and  said  to 
him  : '  My  master,  I  am  going  to  die.  These  eighteen  ounces  of  gold 
are  for  your  bounty  ;  this  piece  of  money  for  my  comrades ;  and  this 
good  old  man,  my  husband,  also,  if  your  bounty  will  let  him  have  an 
ounce  to  help  him  on  through  life,  it  is  well.'  The  poor  old  woman 
did  not  die,  but  had  a  most  miraculous  escape. 

"  I  will  refer  to  anothei  anecdote,  showing  the  lofty  and  delicate 
feeling  in  the  heart  of  a  slave.  The  Count  of  Gibacoa  owned  a 
slave,  who,  being  desirous  of  ransoming  himself,  asked  his  master 
'  how  much  he  asked  for  him  ?'  The  answer  was, '  Nothing ;  thou  art 
free  henceforth/  The  negro  was  silent,  looked  at  his  master,  wept, 


RECORD   OF  ATROCIOUS   DEEDS.  323 

and  went  off.  A  few  hours  afterward  he  returned,  bringing  with  him 
a  fine  bozal,  or  newly-imported  African,  whom  he  had  purchased  with 
the  sum  intended  for  his  freedom ;  and  he  said  to  the  count :  '  My 
master,  your  bounty  had  one  slave  before ;  it  has  now  two.' 

"  The  blacks  become  identified  with  the  affairs  of  their  masters, 
and  take  part  in  their  quarrels.  The  captain-general,  Tacon,  who, 
during  the  time  of  his  government  in  Cuba,  performed  some  few 
beneficent  acts  in  this  colony,  but  from  his  harsh  and  inflexible  tem 
per  excited  much  ill-feeling,  and  took  pleasure  in  humbling  the 
nobility  by  his  despotism,  had  persecuted  the  Marquis  of  Casa  Calvo, 
who  died  while  exiled.  Some  time  afterward,  and  for  the  purpose  of 
a  magnificent  banquet,  which  Tacon  was  to  give  the  latter,  he  solic 
ited  the  more  renowned  cooks  of  the  city  ;  but  the  best  of  them  was 
a  slave  to  the  Marchioness  of  Arcos,  a  daughter  of  the  unfortunate 
Casa  Calvo, 

Would  not  Accept  Liberty. 

"  Dazzled  by  the  very  height  of  his  station,  the  general  imagined 
that  nothing  would  oppose  his  will ;  and  he  asked  the  lady  to  allow 
him  the  services  of  the  cook ;  but  she,  as  might  be  expected,  refused. 
Mortified  with  the  failure,  the  general  offered  the  negro  not  only  his 
freedom,  but  an  additional  and  abundant  gift,  should  he  choose  to 
enter  his  service;  but  the  negro  answered  :  '  Tell  the  governor  that  I 
prefer  slavery  and  poverty  with  my  master  to  wealth  and  liberty  with 
out  him.' " 

These  acts,  however,  of  devoted  fidelity  on  the  part  of  the  slaves 
are  descriptive  of  a  period  in  the  history  of  the  slavery  of  Cuba  long 
since  passed.  Though  the  romantic  and  very  youthful  heart  of  the 
countess  would  have  prolonged  the  dream,  every  one  was  soon 
awakened  to  the  sad  reality  which  covered  the  land. 

Not  very  far  apart,  in  time,  from  the  insurrection  of  Montalvo, 
another  took  place  somewhere  near  Aguacate.  In  1842  there  was 
one  in  Martiaro,  for  the  second  time.  On  the  last  occasion  the  slaves 
were  made  bold  by  the  impunity  which,  through  the  deranged  system 
of  justice,  and  the  influence  of  their  owners,  had  been  obtained  for 
them  previously.  In  the  same  year  the  captain  of  the  district  of 


324  RECORD    OF   ATROCIOUS    DEEDS. 

Lagunillas  found  an  incendiary  proclamation,  which  had  fallen  from 
the  pocket  of  a  foreign  mulatto,  who  was  employed  as  mason.  A 
monk  appeared  on  an  estate  near  Limonar,  under  pretence  of  request 
ing  alms  for  the  Virgin,  whose  image  he  carried  with  him,  and  went 
on  prophesying  to  the  blacks  that  on  St.  John's  day  they  would 
become  free. 

In  July  of  the  same  year,  the  slaves  of  an  estate  near  Bemba  com 
mitted  several  acts  of  insubordination,  and  murdered  a  neighbor. 
An  Italian  hair-dresser  was  imprisoned  in  1841  for  receiving  procla 
mations  of  an  incendiary  nature.  The  negroes  of  Aldama,  under 
the  very  walls  of  Havana,  refused  to  work,  and  claimed  the  right  of 
freedom. 

In  January,  1843,  a  colored  man,  suspected  by  his  companions  of 
having  revealed  the  particulars  of  the  murder  of  an  officer  of  govern 
ment,  by  the  name  of  Becerra,  was  assassinated  by  one  of  his  own  class, 
who,  being  afterward  taken,  committed  suicide  in  jail.  In  March, 
1843,  there  happened  at  Bemba  an  insurrection  of  five  hundred 
negroes,  belonging  to  the  railroad  company  and  others.  Very  soon 
after,  there  was  another  movement  on  a  large  estate ;  and  before  that 
year  closed  it  occurred  a  second  time.  Soon  after  the  insurgents 
made  a  formal  rally,  doing  many  bloody  deeds,  and  murdering  num 
bers  of  the  whites  of  different  ages  and  sexes. 

The  above  brief  retrospective  view  of  a  few  only  of  the  principal 
signs  which  were  indicative  of  disquietude  among  the  slave  popula 
tion  is  a  very  important  part  of  Cuban  history.  The  information  re 
ceived  officially  at  Havana  from  the  Spanish  minister  at  Washington, 
and  through  the  court  of  Madrid,  as  far  back  as  1834,  in  which  the 
dangers  which  threatened  the  Island  were  fully  shown,  had  been 
altogether  slighted. 

So  also  were  these  events,  though  marked  with  blood,  and  showing 
unequivocal  symptoms  of  a  coming  storm.  It  gathered  not  in  a  single 
day,  but  came  gradually  on;  and  the  humble  landholder  was  doomed 
to  see  the  clouds  of  destruction  hanging  over  his  property,  amid  the 
general  apathy  of  the  officers  of  government,  who  alone  were  intrusted 
with  the  care  of  that  rn  which  they  felt  no  interest 


RECORD   OF  ATROCIOUS  DEEDS.  325 

A  rich  planter  having  obtained,  subsequently  to  the  last  bloody 
J,nsurrection  of  November,  1843,  by  means  of  a  negro  woman,  and  by 
hiding  himself  during  the  night  in  the  room  where  she  slept  with  her 
husband,  the  particulars  of  a  plan  of  devastation  and  bloodshed  so 
extended  as  to  make  him  shudder  with  horror,  the  local  government^ 
seemed  at  length  to  awake  from  a  sleep  fraught  with  such  imminent 
danger. 

One  of  the  immediate  results  was  a  meeting  of  the  planters  called 
in  the  city  of  Matanzas  for  the  third  of  December.  The  meeting  was 
held;  a  committee  named  to  propose,  on  the  seventeenth,  a  report 
which  report  being  unfavorable  to  the  slave  trade,  the  planters  were 
not  allowed  to  meet  again,  and  the  military  administration  went 
through  those  difficult  circumstances,  guided  by  its  own  incompetent 
intelligence,  or  by  the  suggestions  of  the  ignorant. 

How  did  they  act?  What  system  did  they  adopt  to  quell  the 
general  commotion  among  the  colored  population,  which  was  so  visi 
ble  to  every  eye  ?  The  answer  to  these  questions  will  be  found  in  the 
ungrateful  task  which  it  is  here  necessary  to  perform. 

All  Considered  Criminals. 

Under  the  impression  derived  from  some  testimony  obtained  by  the 
military  tribunals,  established  for  the  occasion,  and  composed  of 
officers  of  inferior  grade,  it  was  supposed  that  the  conspiracy  framed 
by  the  blacks  comprehended  every  individual  of  that  unfortunate 
class.  No  one  was  excepted:  every  one  must  be  guilty;  and  those 
who  would  or  could  reveal  nothing,  were  marked  as  the  most  criminal. 

Acting  upon  this  ground,  a  general  investigation,  or  what  was 
called  "  expurgo"  was  ordered  throughout  the  whole  land,  and 
intrusted  to  the  most  ignorant  officers,  whose  system  of  inquiry  was 
reduced  to  questions  implying  the  answers  required,  and  accompanied 
by  the  most  violent  chastisement,  often  inflicted  in  such  a  manner  as 
sooner  or  later  to  produce  death.  Suggestions  were  made  of  the 
utility  of  employing  lawyers  of  eminent  standing,  whose  ingenuity  and 
capacity  would  have  advanced  the  proceedings  efficiently;  but  noth 
ing  of  the  kind  met  a  hearing.  The  following  are  a  few  of  the 


326  RECORD   OF  ATROCIOUS    DEEDS. 

atrocious  acts  which  resulted  from  conferring  judicial  powers  upon 
military  officers  of  an  inferior  class. 

Under  date  of  March  6th,  1844,  the  captain-general  addressed  a 
letter  to  General  Salas,  who  presided  over  the  military  tribunal 
stationed  in  the  interior,  in  answer  to  the  dispatches  of  the  latter, 
consulting  him  as  to  the  necessity  of  using  violent  means  in  the 
prosecution  of  those  free  colored  persons  under  indictment,  who 
should  refuse  to  discover  their  associates,  and  setting  forth  the  good 
effects  which  those  means  had  produced  among  the  slaves.  In  this 
letter  his  excellency  authorized  these  same  means  to  be  employed 
with  the  free  colored  population,  and  manifested  his  approbation  of 
their  chastisement  in  the  country  where  they  should  be  taken,  and  of 
the  attendance  of  the  officer,  in  order  to  certify  the  testimony ! 

Brutal  Exercise  of  Authority. 

These  officers,  thus  raised  by  a  power  above  the  laws,  and  above 
the  dominical  rights  of  the  owners  of  slaves,  with  very  few  excep 
tions,  exercised  their  authority  in  a  manner  the  most  sordid,  brutal, 
and  sanguinary.  Under  the  universal  alarm  raised,  and  extending 
to  every  hut,  whoever  was  bold  enough  to  insinuate  a  doubt  respect 
ing  facts  revealed  under  the  most  atrocious  tortures,  was  deemed  an 
abolitionist;  although  his  interests  and  previous  conduct  presented  a 
much  safer  guarantee  of  his  opinions  than  the  trust  which  should  be 
placed  in  uneducated  and  hungry  officers  of  the  army.  It  was  quite 
common  for  the  latter  to  demand  and  obtain  money  from  the  accused, 
in  order  to  save  their  lives,  or  their  bodies  from  barbarous  lashing. 

One  of  these  prosecuting  attorneys,  judges,  and  executioners,  at 
one  and  the  same  time,  namely,  Don  Ramon  Gonzales,  ordered  his 
victims  to  be  taken  to  a  room  which  had  been  whitewashed,  and  the 
walls  of  which  were  besmeared  with  blood  and  small  pieces  of  flesh 
from  the  wretches  who  had  preceded  them  in  this  cruel  treatment. 
There  stood  a  bloody  ladder,  where  the  accused  were  tied,  with  their 
heads  downward,  and  whether  free  or  slave,  if  they  would  not  avow 
what  the  fiscal  officer  insinuated,  were  whipped  to  death  by  two  stout 
mulattoes  selected  for  this  purpose.  They  were  scourged  with 


RECORD   OF  ATROCIOUS   DEEDS.  32V 

leather  straps,  having  at  the  end  a  small  destructive  button,  made  of 
fine  wire. 

At  the  spot  called  the  farm  of  Soto,  were  butchered  in  this  manner 
M.  Ruiz,  C.  Tolon,  George  Blakely,  and  other  freemen;  and  their 
deaths  were  made  to  appear,  by  certificates  from  physicians,  as  hav 
ing  been  caused  by  diarrhoea.  This  new  minister  of  the  law  had 
been  formerly  prosecuted  for  theft,  extortion,  and  even  deeper  crimes, 
committed  while  he  commanded  the  criminals'  depot. 

Inhuman  Tortures. 

Don  Mariano  F brought  on  himself  the  execration  and 

odium  of  the  whole  city  of  Matanzas  for  his  barbarous  treatment 
of  Andrew  Dodge,  a  colored  man,  born  free,  who  was  generally 
beloved  and  esteemed,  and  was  the  owner  of  considerable  property. 
He  was  tied  to  the  ladder  and  flogged  on  three  different  occasions, 
but  never  avowed  what  he  was  accused  of;  and  finally  he  was  executed, 
in  defiance  even  of  those  sanguinary  laws  of  old,  which  instituted  the 
ordeal  of  torture  in  ages  called  barbarous. 

He  also  caused  a  free  negro,  Pedro  Nunez,  to  be  tied  hand-and-foot 
and  hung  to  the  ceiling  of  the  house,  keeping  him  in  this  painful 
position  through  the  night,  his  body  having  been  previously  lacerated 
by  the  whip.  Again,  by  threatening  to  inflict  punishment,  he  obtained 
from  the  mulatto,  Thomas  Vargas,  an  affidavit  against  a  man  of  the 
same  class,  called  Fonten.  He  used  to  visit  Vargas  at  his  dungeon 
every  day  after  sentence  had  been  passed  on  him,  to  assure  him 
sportingly  that  he  would  not  fail  to  receive  four  bullets  through  his 
body.  The  prophecy  was  of  course  fulfilled. 

Don  Juan  Costa,  another  of  the  acting  officers,  had  likewise  his 
share  in  this  work  of  accusation  ;  and  there  were,  in  the  process  of 
his  making,  ninety-six  certificates  of  an  equal  number  of  deaths  of 
the  indicted  during  the  investigation.  Of  these,  forty-two  were 
freemen  and  fifty-four  slaves.  They  all  had  died  under  the  lash  ;  and 
that  you  may  judge  of  the  intensity  of  their  sufferings,  I  will  record 
what  appears  from  the  process,  viz. :  "  Lorenzo  Sanchez,  imprisoned 
on  the  first  of  April,  died  on  the  fourth  ;  Joseph  Cavallero,  imprisoned 


328  RECORD   OF  ATROCIOUS   DEEDS.. 

on  the  fourth,  died  on  the  sixth ;  John  Austin  Molino,  imprisoned  on 
the  ninth,  died  on  the  twelfth ;  and  so  on  through  an  infinite  number. 
Don  Jose  del  Pozo  punished  a  negro  one  hundred  and  ten  years 
old,  who  died  at  the  Matanzas  jail.  Don  Francisco  Illas,  the  en 
lightened  and  humane  fiscal  officer,  who  appears  among  those  of  his 
class  as  if  to  redeem  the  Spanish  name  from  the  dark  stain  brought 
upon  it  by  his  associates,  was  called  to  certify  to  the  death  of  this  old 
man  ;  but  he  drew  back  horror-struck  from  the  spot  when  he  beheld 
a  man  so  worn  by  age,  having  his  body  cut  into  pieces  by  the  pitiless 
lash.  The  unfortunate  victim  had  complained  of  the  fiscal  Pozo,  accus 
ing  him  of  stealing  from  him  forty-five  dollars.  Del  Pozo,  after  in 
flicting  severe  punishment,  found  sport  in  hanging  the  accused 
victims  on  a  tree,  and  then  cutting  the  ropes  to  see  them  fall  to  the 
ground  in  bunches.  He  had  been  a  journeyman  tailor  at  Havana. 

A  Savage  Boast. 

Don  Ferdinand  Percher  presented  his  process,  having  seventy-two 
certificates  of  deaths  of  prisoners  during  the  prosecution ;  twenty- 
nine  freemen  and  forty-three  slaves.  "  I  have  one  hundred  prisoners 
in  souse,"  said  he  once,  before  a  number  of  respectable  citizens,  "  and 
if  one  escapes  I  am  willing  to  have  him  nailed  to  my  forehead." 

Don  Leon  Dulzaides,  in  July,  1844,  had  a  free  negro  placed  in  the 
jail  in  what  is  called  "  campaign  stocks,"  which  is  a  most  distressing 
position  of  the  body,  the  arms  being  arranged  so  as  to  hold  the  legs  ; 
and  thus  placed,  ordered  him  to  be  whipped  unmercifully,  until  he 
should  confess.  Another  of  the  fiscals,  who  was  acting  in  his  official 
character  in  the  next  room,  was  called  by  the  cries  of  the  victim,  and 
obtained  for  him  a  suspension  of  punishment. 

Dulzaides  demanded  the  punishment  of  death  for  twenty-seven 
prisoners,  but  the  council  sentenced  only  two.  During  the  reading  of 
the  sentence,  he  used  to  ask  money  of  such  as  were  saved  from  death. 

Seventy  prisoners  of  Don  Jyacinth died  during  the  prosecution, 

of  whom  thirty-five  were  freemen.  This  fiscal  was  suspended  from 
office. 

Don  Miguel  Ballo  de  la  Torre,  being  on  the  estate  of  Oviedo,  ex- 


RECORD   OF  ATROCIOUS   DEEDS.  329 

torted  from  the  negroes  affidavits  accusing  their  master,  who,  being 
absent,  was  apprised  through  his  administrator  or  econome,  that  he  was 
a  lost  man,  but  that  the  fiscal  would  save  him,  provided  he  paid  two 
hundred  ounces  of  gold.  The  administrator  wrote  several  letters  on 
the  subject,  which  were  handed  to  General  Salas,  president  of  the- 
tribune,  who  wrote  to  the  fiscal,  ordering  him  not  to  continue  the 
prosecution  on  that  estate. 

Don  Manuel  Siburu,  fiscal  of  the  prosecution  against  the  English 
juid  American  machinists,  had  demanded  in  his  accusation  the  sen 
tence  of  death  upon  an  Englishman  named  Elkins.  The  members 
of  the  military  tribunals,  however,  being  intimidated  by  the  con 
sequences  that  might  follow,  and  at  the  same  time  well  aware  that 
the  testimony  had  been  extorted  by  the  lash,  consulted  respecting  the 
case  with  General  O'Donnell. 

What  the  Treaty  Guaranteed. 

The  latter  answered,  that  they  should  proceed  from  what  they 
found  in  the  process,  and  look  well  to  what  they  did  ;  which,  as  there 
was  no  mention  of  the  torture  in  the  proceedings,  meant  that  they 
should  crown  by  their  sentence  the  system  of  barbarous  cruelty  com 
menced  by  the  fiscals.  The  consultation  was  repeated,  and  a  similar 
answer  obtained. 

At  the  same  time,  Mr.  Crawford,  the  English  consul  at  Havana, 
officially  informed  the  captain-general  that  he  was  aware  that  the 
British  Majesty's  subjects  were  being  indicted  and  judged  at  Matan- 
zas  in  a  manner  different  from  that  adopted  toward  Spanish  subjects ; 
that  as  the  testimony  had  been  obtained  by  forcible  means,  whatever 
had  been  done  was  null ;  that  there  existed  a  treaty  between  the  two 
nations,  wherein  it  was  stipulated  that  no  Englishman  should  be 
judged  in  the  Spanish  dominions  by  special  tribunals  or  committees, 
but  by  the  regular  order  of  the  Spanish  laws  for  Spaniards. 

The  consul  was  persevering  in  his  demand,  and  the  captain-gen 
eral,  embarrassed  also  by  the  consultations  aforesaid,  was  obliged  to 
give  up ;  and  he  consequently  ordered  that  the  prosecutior.  against 
foreigners  should  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  Don  Francisco  Illas,  to 


330  RECORD  OF  ATROCIOUS  DEEDS. 

be  made  anew.  This  able  officer  soon  perceived  that  nothing  was  to 
be  met  with  in  what  had  been  done  but  falsehood,  infamy,  and 
calumny,  disconnectedly  thrown  together  by  the  stupid  Siburu. 

Within  two  months  afterward  the  prisoners  were  declared  inno 
cent,  and  liberated.  It  was  in  the  presence  of  this  same  Siburu,  that 
another  of  his  prisoners,  the  aged  and  respectable  mulatto,  Ceballos, 
well  known  and  esteemed  by  the  merchants  of  Havana,  suddenly 
expired  on  being  shown  the  place  of  torture. 

Shifting  the  G-uilt  on  Another. 

Don  Pedro  Linares  had  three  old  Indians  whipped  in  Cardenas, 
two  of  whom  died,  who  lived  in  that  neighborhood,  and  had  resided 
on  the  Island  since  the  acquisition  of  Florida  by  the  United  States, 
whence  they  had  come,  from  their  attachment  to  the  Spanish  nation. 
Don  Pedro  Acevedo,  fiscal  of  the  proceedings  against  the  negroes  on 
the  coffee  estate  of  Domech,  who  had  been  accused  of  possessing 
poison  (which,  by  the  by,  was  never  found)  for  the  purpose  of  killing 
their  master,  so  contrived  it  as  to  throw  the  guilt  on  a  young1  white 
man,  a  native  of  the  Canary  Islands,  aged  between  nineteen  and 
twenty-one,  who  was  executed,  declaring  his  innocence  to  the  last 
moment  of  his  life.  On  being  exhorted  by  the  priest  to  pardon  his 
enemies,  he  complied  with  the  request,  excepting  the  fiscal,  Acevedo, 
whom  he  could  not  pardon. 

Don  Pedro  Llanes,  another  of  the  fiscals,  filled  up  the  measure  of 
his  crimes,  which  cried  so  loudly  for  punishment,  that  he  was  at 
length  accused  of  numberless  robberies,  extortions  of  money,  and  all 
kinds  of  wickedness,  and  at  last  was  stopped  in  his  dark  career,  and 
imprisoned  in  the  Havana  jail.  There,  under  the  stingings  of  con 
science,  he  placed  in  the  hands  of  General  O'Donnell  two  hundred 
and  fifty  ounces  of  gold,  which  had  been  the  fruits  of  his  rapacity ; 
and  soon  after  committed  suicide  by  cutting  his  throat.  Don  Manuel 
Mata,  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Carlist  ranks  in  1834,  another  of  the 
fiscals,  was  imprisoned  at  Havana  for  excesses  and  robberies  com 
mitted  in  his  official  character  during  these  disgraceful  proceedings,. 

The    remaining    fiscals,    Gala,  Gherci,   Flores   Apodaca,  Cruces, 


RECORD   OF  ATROCIOUS   DEEDS.  331 

Custardoz,  Marcotegui,  Maso,  Llorens,  Sanchez,  Rosquin,  Baltanas, 
Alvarez  Murillo,  and  Domenech,  traversed  the  country  in  every  direc 
tion,  and  strictly  obeyed  the  orders  they  had  received ;  some  whip 
ping  or  torturing  free  colored  or  slave  individuals,  and  extorting  false 
testimony  and  accusations,  and  others  seizing  horses,  cattle,  furniture, 
and  whatever  was  owned  by  the  free  colored  persons,  all  which  they 
sold  and  converted  into  cash.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say,  that  the 
fiscals  took  from  their  victims  every  cent  which  they  possessed. 

It  is  but  justice  to  add,  that  the  fiscals  named  Mendoza,  Arango, 
and  Illas  are  honorable  exceptions  to  this  host  of  miscreants.  Signor 
Illas,  above  all,  has  called  forth  the  approbation  of  all  the  feeling  part 
of  the  community,  and  of  the  friends  of  justice  and  humanity,  for  his 
able,  judicious,  disinterested,  and  impartial  conduct  and  deportment 
in  the  cases  of  the  French  coffee-planters  and  the  English  and  Ameri 
can  machinists,  as  well  as  of  all  who  fell  under  his  control. 

Prisoners  Sentenced  to  Death. 

In  the  cases  under  the  direction  of  the  fiscal  Ballo,  this  officer  did 
not  demand  that  sentence  of  death  should  be  pronounced  on  any  of 
his  prisoners  ;  the  tribunal  nevertheless  sentenced  two.  The  fiscal 
Lara  demanded  death  for  only  one,  and  the  tribunal  sentenced  four. 
The  sergeant  intrusted  with  the  custody  of  the  prisoners  in  the  mili 
tary  jail  at  Matanzas  is  said  to  have  collected  twenty  thousand  dol 
lars  in  cash  for  prison-fees  and  other  arbitrary  charges  exacted  from 
the  prisoners. 

In  the  city  of  Matanzas,  the  general  persecution  of  the  colored 
race  was  converted  by  the  fiscals  into  means  of  gratifying  their  lewd 
passions  upon  the  distracted  daughters,  wives,  and  sisters  of  their 
male  victims.  So  far  did  they  carry  their  barefaced  impudence,  that 
a  ball  was  given  by  several  of  the  fiscals,  and  attended  by  the  con 
sulting  lawyer  of  the  military  tribunal,  where  none  but  women  of 
color  appeared.  At  a  late  hour  of  the  night,  the  doors  were  closed  ; 
and  all  the  inmates  being  in  a  state  of  disgraceful  nudity,  one  can 
imagine  what  scenes  of  revelry  and  debauch  followed. 

Acts  of  such  low  and  stupid  infamy  serve  to  show  how  the  several 


332  RECORD    OF  ATROCIOUS    DEEDS. 

channels  of  civilization  are  interwoven,  and  how  easy  it  is  for  man, 
when  once  authorized  to  trample  on  any  of  the  salutary  restraints  of 
society,  to  mock  and  despise  whatever  comes  in  the  way  of  his  most 
sensual  appetites. 

And  now,  in  order  justly  to  estimate  the  trust  placed  in  the  hands 
of  these  agents  of  military  justice,  the  nature  of  their  duties  should 
be  stated.  They  had  separately  the  jurisdiction  of  a  tribunal,  with 
power  to  imprison  and. call  before  them  whomsoever  they  would 
interrogate.  The  testimony  which  they  obtained  was  received  pri 
vately,  no  one  being  present  except  the  fiscal  and  the  witness.  The 
fiscal  would  write  down  and  sign  the  declaration,  the  blacks  and- the 
majority  of  witnesses  knowing  neither  how  to  read  nor  write. 

A  Mockery  of  Justice. 

Not  even  the  notary,  who  is  required  to  be  present  at  the  affidavits 
before  the  ordinary  tribunals,  appeared  on  these  occasions  to  check 
the  arbitrary,  malicious,  or  blind  impressions  of  the  fiscal.  Officers 
of  the  army  were  named  to  act  as  counsel  for  the  individuals  indicted, 
whether  colored  or  white,  free  or  bondsmen.  These  counselors, 
incapable  through  lack  of  talent  or  learning,  were  not  allowed  to  read 
the  proceedings  regarding  the  persons  whom  they  were  to  defend. 
All  the  instruction  they  had  must  be  derived  from  a  hasty  and  gene 
ral  abstract  of  facts  made  by  the  same  fiscal,  whose  last  duty  was  to 
demand  the  sentence  which,  in  his  opinion,  should  be  imposed  on  the 
criminal. 

Too  much  blame  should  not  be  attributed  to  the  chief  who,  com 
manding  the  Island  at  this  delicate  period,  could  not  be  approached 
by  the  wisdom  and  intelligence  of  the  land.  The  invariable  and 
jealous  policy  which,  for  many  years,  has  directed  the  administration 
of  Cuba,  drew  away  from  the  absolute  military  authority  whatever 
was  enlightened  and  spirited.  Men  of  vulgar  habits  and  little  edu 
cation  were  the  natural  upholders  of  a  barbarous  system ;  and  it  was 
not  easy  to  find  officers  of  superior  worth  to  act  under  a  cruel  im 
pulse,  and  to  execute  sanguinary  orders ;  so  that  this  strange  course 
was  unavoidably  placed  in  the  most  incapable  or  polluted  hands. 


RECORD    OF   ATROCIOUS    DEEDS.  333 

With  regard  to  the  truth  of  the  conspiracy,  and  whatever  ground 
it  originally  had,  it  has  been  so  much  embroiled  and  connected  with 
incoherent,  false,  and  improbable  testimony,  adduced  by  the  fear  of 
punishment,  that  a  general  opinion  is  fast  gaining  ground  at  the 
present  day  that  it  never  existed,  and  that  the  few  reports  and-  con 
versations  of  a  rebellious  nature,  mentioned  with  some  plausibility  in 
the  course  of  the  investigations,  are  the  constant  and  latent  workings 
of  the  slaves,  which,  in  all  ages,  have  accompanied  the  institution  of 
slavery.  This  would  be  a  difficult  matter  to  decide. 

The  events  which  preceded  the  general  and  scourging  inquisition, 
together  with  the  simultaneous  and  visible  impudence  of  the  free 
colored  race,  were  certain  indications  of  a  disturbed  state  of  mind  in 
at  least  some  sections  of  the  country.  On  the  other  hand,  the  indict 
ments  followed  up  by  different  fiscals,  and  the  use  of  the  torture 
without  obtaining  satisfactory  evidence  to  dispel  all  manner  of  doubt 
as  to  the  existence  of  a  plot,  speak  against  its  credibility.  It  can  also 
be  alleged  that  the  very  ignorance  of  the  prosecutors,  and  the  irreg 
ularity  of  their  mode  of  procedure,  were  calculated  to  hinder  the 
discovery  of  a  plot,  without  deciding  that  it  had  positively  no 
foundation. 

It  is  more  likely  that  the  conspiracy  was  in  its  infancy ;  and  that 
when  the  avenging  storm  which  swept  over  the  land  was  heard  from 
afar,  it  increased  the  number  of  the  discontented,  who,  through 
despair,  prepared  for  some  last  acts  of  devastation  and  blood.  There 
is  one  painful  reflection,  which  fixes  itself  upon  the  considerate  ob 
server  of  events.  While  foreigners,  after  long  delay,  obtained  a 
hearing  of  their  Cases,  and  after  being  paraded  through  the  country, 
tied  hand-and-foot  on  horseback,  and  kept  in  a  filthy  dungeon,  were 
declared  innocent,  the  white  Creoles,  who  had  been  imprisoned  with 
equal  injustice,  remained  still  incarcerated,  and  their  cases  undecided, 
because  they  had  no  consul  to  claim  for  them  the  rights  of  civilized 
man ! 


CHAPTER  XXV. 
Story  of  Marti,  the  Smuggler. 

ONE  of  the  most  successful  villains  whose  story  will  be  written 
in  history,  is  a  man  named  Marti,  as  well  known  in  Cuba  as 
the  person  of  the  Governor-General  himself.  Formerly  he 
was  notorious  as  a  smuggler  and  half  pirate  on  the  coast  of  the 
Island,  being  a  daring  and  accomplished  leader  of  reckless  men.  At 
one  time  he  bore  the  title  of  King  of  the  Isle  of  Pines,  where  was 
his  principal  rendezvous,  and  from  whence  he  dispatched  his  vessels, 
small,  fleet  crafts,  to  operate  in  the  neighboring  waters. 

When  Tacon  landed  on  the  Island,  and  became  Governor-General, 
he  found  the  revenue  laws  in  a  sad  condition,  as  well  as  the  internal 
regulations  of  the  Island.  As  already  stated,  Tacon  governed  Cuba 
four  years,  from  1834  to  1838.  The  Spanish  marine  sent  out 
to  regulate  the  maritime  matters  of  the  Island,  lay  idly  in  port, 
the  officers  passing  their  time  on  shore,  or  in  giving  balls  and 
dances  on  the  decks  of  their  vessels.  Tacon  saw  that  one  of  the 
first  moves  for  him  to  make  was  to  suppress  the  smuggling  upon  the 
coast,  at  all  hazards ;  and  to  this  end  he  set  himself  directly  to  work. 
The  maritime  force  at  his  command  was  at  once  detailed  upon  this 
service,  and  they  coasted  night  and  day,  but  without  the  least  success 
against  the  smugglers.  In  vain  were  all  the  vigilance  and  activity  of 
Tacon  and  his  agents — they  accomplished  nothing. 

At  last,  finding  that  all  his  expeditions  against  them  failed,  partly 
from  the  adroitness  and  bravery  of  the  smugglers,  and  partly  from 
the  want  of  pilots  among  the  shoals. and  rocks  they  had  frequented,  a 
large  and  tempting  reward  was  offered  to  any  one  of  them  who  would 
desert  from  his  comrades  and  act  in  this  capacity  in  behalf  of  the 
Government. 

At  the  same  time,  a  double  sum,  most  princely  in  amount,  was 
334 


MARTI,  THE  SMUGGLER.  335 

offered  for  the  person  of  one  Marti,  dead  or  alive,  who  was  known  to 
be  the  leader  of  the  lawless  rovers  who  thus  defied  the  Government. 
These  rewards  were  freely  promulgated,  and  posted  so  as  to  reach 
the  ears  and  eyes  of  those  whom  they  concerned ;  but  even  these 
seemed  to  produce  no  effect,  and  the  Government  officers  were  at  a 
loss  how  to  proceed  in  the  matter. 

A  Mysterious  Figure. 

It  was  a  dark,  cloudy  night  in  Havana,  some  three  or  four  months 
subsequent  to  the  issuing  of  these  placards  announcing  the  rewards 
referred  to,  when  two  sentinels  were  pacing  backwards  and  forwards 
before  the  main  entrance  to  the  Governor's  palace,  just  opposite  the 
grand  plaza.  A  little  before  midnight,  a  man,  wrapped  in  a  cloak, 
was  watching  them  from  behind  the  statue  of  Ferdinand,  near  the 
fountain,  and,  after  observing  that  the  two  soldiers  acting  as  sentinels 
paced  their  brief  walk  so  as  to  meet  each  other,  and  then  turn  their 
backs  as  they  separated,  leaving  a  brief  moment  in  the  interval  when 
the  eyes  of  both  were  turned  away  from  the  entrance  they  were 
placed  to  guard,  seemed  to  calculate  upon  passing  them  unobserved. 

It  was  an  exceedingly  delicate  manoeuvre,  and  required  great  care 
and  dexterity  to  effect  it ;  but,  at  last,  it  was  adroitly  done,  and  the 
stranger  sprang  lightly  through  the  entrance,  secreting  himself 
behind  one  of  the  pillars  in  the  inner  court  of  the  palace.  The  senti 
nels  paced  on  undisturbed. 

The  figure  which  had  thus  stealthily  effected  an  entrance,  now 
sought  the  broad  stairs  that  led  to  the  Governor's  suite  of  apartments, 
with  a  confidence  that  evinced  a  perfect  knowledge  of  the  place.  A 
second  guard-post  was  to  be  passed  at  the  head  of  the  stairs ;  but, 
assuming  an  air  of  authority,  the  stranger  offered  a  cold  military 
salute  and  pressed  forward,  as  though  there  was  not  the  most  distant 
question  of  his  right  so  to  do  ;  and  thus  avoiding  all  suspicion  in  the 
guard's  mind,  he  boldly  entered  the  Governor's  reception-room  un 
challenged,  and  closed  the  door  behind  him. 

In  a  large  easy-chair  sat  the  commander-in-chief,  busily  engaged 
in  writing,  but  alone.  An  expression  of  undisguised  satisfaction 


336  MARTI,  THE  SMUGGLER 

passed  across  the  weather-beaten  countenance  of  the  new-comer  al 
this  state  of  affairs,  as  he  coolly  cast  off  his  cloak  and  tossed  it  over 
his  arm,  and  then  proceeded  to  wipe  the  perspiration  from  his  face. 
The  Governor,  looking  up  with  surprise,  fixed  his  keen  eyes  upon 
the  intruder. 

"  Who  enters  here,  unannounced,  at  this  hour?  "  he  asked,  sternly 
while  he  regarded  the  stranger  earnestly. 

"  One  who  has  information  of  value  for  the  governor-general.  Yoi 
are  Tacon,  I  suppose  ?" 

"  I  am.  What  would  you  with  me  ?  or,  rather,  how  did  you  pass 
my  guard  unchallenged?" 

"  Of  that  anon.  Excellency,  you  have  offered  a  handsome  reward 
for  information  concerning  the  rovers  of  the  gulf?" 

"  Ha  !  yes.    What  of  them  ?"  said  Tacon,  with  undisguised  interest. 

"  Excellency,  I  must  speak  with  caution,"  continued  the  new 
comer  ;  "  otherwise  I  may  condemn  and  sacrifice  myself." 

"  You  have  naught  to  fear  on  that  head.  The  offer  of  reward  for 
evidence  against  the  scapegraces  also  vouchsafes  a  pardon  to  the 
informant.  You  may  speak  on,  without  fear  for  yourself,  even 
though  you  may  be  one  of  the  very  confederation  itself." 

"  You  offer  a  reward,  also,  in  addition,  for  the  discovery  of  Marti — 
Captain  Marti,  of  the  smugglers — do  you  not?" 

"  We  do,  and  will  gladly  make  good  the  promise  of  reward  for  any 
and  all  information  upon  the  subject,"  replied  Tacon. 

"  First,  Excellency,  do  you  give  me  your  knightly  word  that  you 
will  grant  a  free  pardon  to  me,  if  I  reveal  all  that  you  require  to 
know,  even  embracing  the  most  secret  hiding-places  of  the  rovers  ?" 

"  I  pledge  you  my  word  of  honor,"  said  the  commander. 

"  No  matter  how  heinous  in  the  sight  of  the  law  my  offences  may 
have  been,  still  you  will  pardon  me,  under  the  king's  seal  ?" 

"  I  will,  if  you  reveal  truly  and  to  any  good  purpose,"  answered 
Tacon,  weighing  in  his  mind  the  purpose  of  all  this  precaution. 

"  Even  if  I  were  a  leader  among  the  rovers,  myself?" 

The  governor  hesitated  for  a  moment,  canvassing  in  a  single 
glance  the  subject  before  him,  and  then  said : 


MARTI,  THE  SMUGGLER.  837 

"  Even  then,  be  you  whom  you  may  ;  if  you  are  able  and  will  hon 
estly  pilot  our  ships  and  reveal  the  secrets  of  Marti  and  his  followers, 
you  shall  be  rewarded  as  our  proffer  sets  forth,  and  yourself  receive  a 
free  pardon." 

"  Excellency,  I  think  I  know  your  character  well  enough  to  trust 
you,  else  I  should  not  have  ventured  here." 

"  Speak,  then  ;  my  time  is  precious,"  was  the  impatient  reply  of 
Tacon. 

"  Then,  Excellency,  the  man  for  whom  you  have  offered  the  largest 
reward,  dead  or  alive,  is  now  before  you ! " 

"And  you  are — " 

"  Marti ! " 

The  governor-general  drew  back  in  astonishment,  and  cast  his  eyes 
towards  a  brace  of  pistols  that  lay  within  reach  of  his  right  hand ; 
but  it  was  only  for  a  single  moment,  when  he  again  assumed  entire 
self-control,  and  said: 

"  I  shall  keep  my  promise,_sir,  provided  you  are  faithful,  though 
the  laws  call  loudly  for  your  punishment,  and  even  now  you  are  in 
my  power.  To  insure  your  faithfulness,  you  must  remain  at  present 
under  guard."  Saying  which,  he  rang  a  silver  bell  by  his  side,  and 
issued  a  verbal  order  to  the  attendant  who  answered  it.  Immediately 
after,  the  officer  of  the  watch  entered,  and  Marti  was  placed  in  con 
finement,  with  orders  to  render  him  comfortable  until  he  was  sent  for. 
His  name  remaine"1  a  secret  with  the  commander;  and  thus  the  night 
scene  closed. 

The  Smuggler  Kept  his  Word. 

On  the  following  day,  one  of  the  men-of-war  that  lay  idly  beneath 
the  guns  of  Morro  Castle  suddenly  became  the  scene  of  the  utmost 
activity,  and,  before  noon,  had  weighed  her  anchor,  and  was  standing 
out  into  the  gulf  stream.  Marti,  the  smuggler,  was  on  board,  as  her 
pilot;  and  faithfully  did  he  guide  the  ship,  on  the  discharge  of  his 
treacherous  business,  among  the  shoals  and  bays  of  the  coast  for 
nearly  a  month,  revealing  every  secret  haunt  of  the  rovers,  exposing 
their  most  valuable  depots  and  well-selected  rendezvous ;  and  many 
a  smuggling  craft  was  taken  and  destroyed. 
22 


338  MARTI,  THE  SMUGGLER. 

The  amount  of  money  and  property  thus  secured  was  very  great; 
and  Marti  returned  with  the  ship  to  claim  his  reward  from  the  gover 
nor-general,  who,  well  satisfied  with  the  manner  in  which  the  rascal 
had  fulfilled  his  agreement,  and  betrayed  those  comrades  who  were 
too  faithful  to  be  tempted  to  treachery  themselves,  summoned  Marti 
before  him. 

"  As  you  have  faithfully  performed  your  part  of  our  agreement," 
said  the  governor-general,  "  I  am  now  prepared  to  comply  with  the 
articles  on  my  part.  In  this  package  you  will  find  a  free  and  uncon 
ditional  pardon  for  all  your  past  offences  against  the  laws.  And  here 
is  an  order  on  the  treasury  for — " 

He  Controlled  the  Fish  Market. 

"  Excellency,  excuse  me.  The  pardon  I  gladly  receive.  As  tc 
the  sum  of  money  you  propose  to  give  to  me,  let  me  make  you  u 
proposition.  Retain  the  money ;  and,  in  place  of  it,  guarantee  to  me 
the  right  to  fish  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  city,  and  "declare  the 
trade  in  fish  contraband  to  all  except  my  agents.  This  will  richly 
repay  me,  and  I  will  erect  a  public  market  of  stone  at  my  own 
expense,  which  shall  be  an  ornament  to  the  city,  and  which  at  the 
expiration  of  a  specified  number  of  years  shall  revert  to  the  govern 
ment,  with  all  right  and  title  to  the  fishery." 

Tacon  was  pleased  at  the  idea  of  a  superb  fish-market,  which  should 
eventually  revert  to  the  government,  and  also  at  the  idea  of  saving 
the  large  sum  of  money  covered  by  the  promised  reward.  The 
singular  proposition  of  the  smuggler  was  duly  considered  and  acceded 
to,  and  Marti  was  declared  in  legal  form  to  possess  for  the  future  sole 
right  to  fish  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  city,  or  to  sell  the  article  in 
any  form,  and  he  at  once  assumed  the  rights  that  the  order  guaran 
teed  to  him. 

Having  in  his  roving  life  learned  all  the  best  fishing-grounds,  he 
furnished  the  city  bountifully  with  the  article,  and  reaped  yearly  an 
immense  profit,  until,  at  the  close  of  the  period  for  which  the  monop 
oly  was  granted,  he  was  the  richest  man  on  the  Island.  According 
tc  the  agreement,  the  fine  market  and  its  privilege  reverted  to  the 


MARTI,  THE  SMUGGLER.  339 

government  at  the  time  specified,  and  the  monopoly  has  ever  since 
been  rigorously  enforced. 

Marti,  now  possessed  of  immense  wealth,  looked  about  him,  to  see 
in  what  way  he  could  most  profitably  invest  it  to  insure  a  handsome 
and  sure  return.  The  idea  struck  him  if  he  could  obtain  the  monop 
oly  of  theatricals  in  Havana  on  some  such  conditions  as  he  had  done 
that  of  the  right  to  fish  off  its  shores,  he  could  still  further  increase 
his  ill-gotten  wealth.  He  obtained  the  monopoly,  on  condition  that 
he  should  erect  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  theatres  in  the  world, 
which  he  did,  locating  the  same  just  outside  the  city  walls. 

Many  romantic  stories  are  told  of  Marti ;  but  the  one  we  have 
related  is  the  only  one  that  is  authenticated. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 
The  Conspiracy  of  Lopez. 

THE  result  of  the  movement  in  the  western  department 
under  Tacon,  showed  the  Cubans  that  they  had  nothing  to 
hope  from  Spain,  while  the  cruelties  of  General  O'Donneli 
increased  the  great  discontent  and  despair  of  the  people.  They  now 
became  satisfied  that  the  hope  of  legal  reform  was  but  a  chimera  ; 
and  a  portion  of  the  liberal  party,  seeing  no  issue  from  their  insuffer 
able  position  but  that  of  revolution,  boldly  advocated  the  intervention 
of  arms.  In  1848  a  conspiracy  was  formed  in  Cienfuegos  and 
Trinidad,  with  the  purpose  of  throwing  off  the  Spanish  yoke  ;  but  it 
was  soon  discovered  and  crushed  by  the  imprisonment  of  various 
individuals  in  the  central  department. 

The  principal  leader  in  this  movement  was  General  Narciso  Lopez, 
who  succeeded  in  effecting  his  escape  to  the  United  States,  where  he  im 
mediately  placed  himself  in  communication  with  several  influential 
and  liberal  Creoles,  voluntary  and  involuntary  exiles,  and  established 
a  correspondence  with  the  remnant  of  the  liberal  party  yet  at  liberty 
on  the  Island,  at  the  same  time  being  aided  in  his  plans  by  American 
sympathy.  The  result  of  the  deliberations  of  himself,  his  correspond 
ents  and  associates,  was  to  try  by  the  chances  of  war  for  the  liberation 
of  Cuba. 

Many  of  the  leading  patriots  of  the  Island  undoubtedly  believed 
that  the  government  of  the  United  States  would  second  their  efforts, 
if  they  should  decide  to  unite  themselves  to  our  republic,  and  boldly 
raise  the  banner  of  annexation.  A  portion  of  the  Cuban  liberals 
adopted  the  motto, "  Legal  Reform  or  Independence ;  "  and  these  two 
factions  of  the  patriots  did  not  henceforth  act  in  perfect  concert  with 
each  other — a  most  fatal  error  to  the  interests  of  both.  Time  and 
circumstances  favored  the  war  and  annexation  party ;  the  people 

MI 


THE   CONSPIRACY   OF   LOPEZ.  341 

were  more  than  ever  discontented  with  a  government  which  so 
oppressed  them  by  a  military  despotism,  and  by  the  enormous 
weight  of  the  unjust  taxation  levied  upon  them.  We  may  here 
remark  that  the  increase  of  the  public  revenue,  in  the  midst  of  so 
many  elements  of  destruction  and  ruin,  can  only  be  explained  by  the 
facility  with  which  the  captain-general  and  royal  stewards  of  the 
Island  invented  and  arranged  taxes,  at  their  pleasure,  and  without  a 
shadow  of  propriety,  or  even  precedent. 

The  colored  population  of  the  Island,  both  slaves  and  free,  hated 
the  Spaniards,  for  good  reasons.  The  war  party,  moreover,  reckoned 
on  the  genius  of  a  leader  (Lopez),  "  the  first  lance  of  Spain,"  trained 
to  arms,  equal  in  talents  to  any  of  the  Spanish  generals,  and  beloved 
by  the  Spanish  troops,  as  well  as  by  the  Cuban  population ;  and  they 
relied,  also,  as  we  have  said,  on  the  sympathy  and  ultimate  aid  of  the 
United  States  government. 

Many  False  Reports. 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  interested  parties  in  this  country, 
prompted  by  mercenary  motives,  increased  this  latter  delusion  by 
false  reports;  while  the  Cuban  conspirators,  in  turn,  buoyed  up  the 
hopes  of  their  friends  in  the  United  States,  by  glowing  accounts  of 
the  patriotic  spirit  of  the  Creoles,  and  the  extent  of  the  preparations 
they  were  making  for  a  successful  revolt. 

General  Lopez  was  actively  arranging  the  means  for  an  invasion, 
when,  in  1849,  tne  United  States  government  threw  terror  into  the 
ranks  of  the  filibusters,  by  announcing  its  determination  to  enforce 
the  sacredness  of  treaty  stipulations.  This,  for  a  time,  frustrated  the 
intended  invasion. 

In  1850  Lopez  succeeded  in  effecting  his  first  descent  upon  the 
Island.  Having  succeeded  in  baffling  the  vigilance  of  the  United 
States  government,  an  expedition,  consisting  of  six  hundred  and 
fifty-two  men,  was  embarked  on  board  two  sailing-vessels  and  the 
steamer  "  Creole,"  which  conveyed  the  general  and  his  staff  In  the 
beginning  of  July  the  sailing-vessels  left  New  Orleans,  with  orders 
to  anchor  at  Contoy,  one  of  the  Mugeres  Islands,  on  the  coast  of 


342  THE   CONSPIRACY   OF   LOPEZ. 

Yucatan ;  the  general  followed,  on  the  "  Creole,"  on  the  /th.  At  the 
time  when  the  troops  were  embarked  on  the  "  Creole  "  at  Contoy, 
fifty-two  of  the  number,  who  had  been  deceived  as  to  the  nature  of  the 
expedition,  refused  to  follow  the  general,  and  were  left  on  the  island, 
with  the  intention  of  returning  to  the  United  States  in  the  two 
schooners. 

General  Lopez,  after  gaining  some  information  from  a  fisherman 
he  encountered,  resolved  to  land  at  Cardenas,  on  the  northern  coast 
of  the  Island,  a  hundred  and  twenty  miles  east  of  Havana.  He  cal 
culated  that  he  could  surprise  and  master  the  garrison  before  the 
Captain-General  could  possibly  obtain  intelligence  of  his  departure 
from  New  Orleans.  His  plan  was  to  master  the  town,  secure  the 
authorities,  intimidate  the  Spaniards,  and  then,  sustained  by  the 
moral  influence  of  victory,  proceed  to  Matanzas  by  railroad. 

War-Ships  Hastily  Despatched. 

Roncali,  the  Captain-General,  having  received  intelligence  of  the 
landing  at  Contoy,  dispatched  several  ships-of-war  in  that  direction, 
to  seize  upon  the  general  and  his  followers.  The  latter,  however, 
escaped  the  snare,  and  effected  his  landing  on  the  ipth.  The  garri 
son  rushed  to  arms,  and,  while  a  portion  of  the  troops,  after  immaterial 
loss,  retired  in  good  order  to  the  suburbs,  another,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Governor  Ceruti,  intrenched  themselves  in  the  government 
house,  «nd  gave  battle  to  the  invaders. 

After  a  sharp  skirmish,  the  building  being  set  on  fire,  they  surren 
dered  ;  the  Governor  and  two  or  three  officers  were  made  prisoners, 
and  the  soldiers  consented  to  join  the  revolutionary  colors  !  Mean 
while,,  l  body  of  one  hundred  invaders  seized  upon  the  railroad  station. 
The  engines  were  fired  up,  and  the  trains  made  ready  to  transport 
the  iuvading  column  to  Matanzas. 

But  now  came  a  pause.  General  Lopez,  seeing  that  the  native 
population  did  not  respond  to  his  appeal,  knew  that  as  soon  as  the 
news  of  the  taking  of  Cardenas  should  be  circulated  he  would  be  in 
a  very  critical  situation.  In  fact,  the  Governor  of  Matanzas  was  soon 
on  tb*  march,  at  the  head  of  five  hundred  men.  General  Armero 


THE   CONSPIRACY   OF   LOPEZ.  343 

sailed  from  Havana  in  the  "  Pizarro/'  with  a  thousand  infantry,  while 
two  thousand  five  hundred  picked  troops,  under  the  command  of 
General  Count  de  Mirasol,  were  sent  from  Havana  by  the  railroad. 

Lopez  saw  that  it  would  be  madness  to  await  the  attack  of  these  for 
midable  columns,  unsupported  save  by  his  own  immediate  followers, 
and  accordingly  issued  his  orders  for  the  reembarkation  of  his  band, 
yet  without  relinquishing  the  idea  of  landing  on  some  more  favorable 
point  of  the  Island. 

That  portion  of  the  garrison  which,  in  the  beginning  of  the  affair, 
had  retreated  to  the  suburbs,  finding  itself  reinforced  by  a  detachment 
of  cavalry,  attempted  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  invading  general ; 
but  the  deadly  fire  of  the  latter's  reserve  decimated  the  horse,  and  the 
infantry,  dismayed  at  their  destruction,  took  to  rapid  flight.  The 
"  Creole  "  accordingly  left  the  port  without  molestation,  and  before 
the  arrival  of  the  government  steam-frigate  "  Pizarro." 

The  Spanish  prisoners  were  landed  at  Cayo  de  Piedras,  and  then 
Lopez,  discovering  the  "  Pizarro "  in  the  distance,  made  for  the 
American  continent,  where  the  steamer  was  abandoned.  General 
Lopez  was  arrested  by  the  authorities  of  Savannah,  but  liberated 
again,  in  deference  to  the  public  clamor.  The  "  Creole  "  was  seized, 
confiscated  and  sold.  The  invaders  disbanded  ;  and  thus  this  enter 
prise  terminated. 

A  less  enterprising  and  determined  spirit  than  that  of  General 
Lopez  would  have  been  completely  broken  by  the  failure  of  his  first 
attempts,  the  inactivity  of  the  Cubans,  the  hostility  of  the  American 
government,  and  the  formidable  forces  and  preparations  of  the  Span 
ish  officials. 

He  believed,  however,  that  the  Cubans  were  ripe  for  revolt ;  that 
public  opinion  in  the  United  States  would  nullify  the  action  of  the 
Federal  government;  and  that,  if  he  could  once  gain  a  foothold  in  the 
Island,  the  Spanish  troops  would  desert  in  such  numbers  to  his  ban 
ners  that  the  preponderance  of  power  would  soon  be  upon  his  side  ; 
and,  with  these  views,  he  once  more  busied  himself,  with  unremitting 
industry,  to  form  another  expedition. 

Meanwhile,  the  daring  attack  upon  Cardenas,  while   it   demon- 


344  THE   CONSPIRACY   OF   LOPEZ. 

strated  the  determination  of  the  invading  party,  caused  great  anxiety 
in  the  mind  of  General  Roncali.  True,  he  had  at  his  disposal  an 
army  of  more  than  twenty  thousand  regular  troops ;  but  he  was  by 
no  means  sure  of  their  loyalty,  and  he  therefore  determined  to  raise  a 
local  militia;  but,  as  he  suffered  only  Spaniards  to  enlist  in  it,  he 
aroused  the  jealousy  of  the  Cuban-born  inhabitants,  and  thus  swelled 
the  force  of  opposition  against  the  government.  General  Lopez  was 
informed  of  this  fact,  and  based  new  hopes  upon  the  circumstance. 

The  Tyranny  Continued. 

The  Spanish  government,  having  recalled  Roncali,  appointed  Don 
Jose  de  la  Concha  Captain-General  of  the  Island,  and  the  severity  of 
his  sway  reminded  the  inhabitants  of  the  iron  rule  of  Tacon.  It  was 
during  his  administration  that  Lopez  effected  his  second  landing  at 
Playitas,  sixty  miles  west  of  Havana.  Several  partial  insurrections, 
which  had  preceded  this  event,  easily  suppressed,  as  it  appears,  by 
the  Spanish  government,  but  exaggerated  in  the  accounts  dispatched 
to  the  friends  of  Cuba  in  the  United  States,  inflamed  the  zeal  of 
Lopez,  and  made  him  believe  that  the  time  for  a  successful  invasion 
had  at  length  arrived.  The  following  is  from  a  narrative  of  one  of 
the  invaders  :  "  The  general  showed  me  much  of  his  correspondence 
from  the  Island.  It  represented  a  pervading  anxiety  for  his  arrival, 
on  the  part  of  the  Creole  population.  His  presence  alone,  to  head 
the  insurrection,  which  would  then  become  general,  was  all  they 
called  for ;  his  presence  and  a  supply  of  arms,  of  which  they  were 
totally  destitute.  The  risings  already  made  were  highly  colored  in 
some  of  the  communications  addressed  to  him  from  sources  of 
unquestionable  sincerity." 

He  was  so  confident,  at  one  time,  of  the  determination  and  ability 
of  the  Cubans  alone  to  secure  their  independence,  that  he  wished  to 
embark  without  any  force,  and  throw  himself  among  them.  It  was 
this  confidence  that  led  him  to  embark  with  only  four  hundred  ill- 
armed  men  on  board  the  little  steamer  "  Pampero,"  on  the  2d  of 
August,  1851.  This  force  consisted  mostly  of  Americans,  but 
embraced  forty-nine  Cubans  in  its  ranks,  with  several  German  and 


THE   CONSPIRACY   OF   LOPEZ.  345 

Hungarian  officers  ;  among  the  latter,  General  Pragay,  one  of  the 
heroes  of  the  Hungarian  revolution,  who  was  second  in  command  to 
General  Lopez  on  this  occasion. 

Many  of  the  foreign  officers  spoke  little,  if  any,  English,  and 
mutual  jealousies  and  insubordinations  soon  manifested  themselves 
in  the  little  band.  They  were  composed  of  fierce  spirits,  and  had 
come  together  without  any  previous  drilling  or  knowledge  of  each 
other.  It  was  not  the  intention  of  the  commander-in-chief  to  sail 
direct  for  Cuba,  but  to  go  to  the  neighborhood  of  St.  John's  river, 
Florida,  and  get  a  supply  of  artillery,  ammunition,  extra  arms,  etc. 

The  Invaders  Effect  a  Landing. 

He  then  proposed  to  land  somewhere  in  the  central  department, 
where  he  thought  he  could  get  a  footing,  and  rally  a  formidable  force, 
before  the  government  troops  could  reach  him.  But,  when  five  days 
out,  Lopez  discovered  that  the  lt  Pampero"  was  short  of  coal ;  as  no 
time  could  be  spared  to  remedy  this  deficiency,  he  resolved  to  effect 
a  landing  at  once,  and  send  back  the  "  Pampero  "  for  reinforcements 
and  supplies. 

At  Key  West  he  obtained  favorable  intelligence  from  Cuba,  which 
confirmed  his  previous  plans.  He  learned  that  a  large  portion  of  the 
troops  had  been  sent  to  the  eastern  department ;  and  he  accordingly 
steered  for  Bahia  Honda  (deep  bay).  The  current  of  the  gulf,  acting 
while  the  machinery  of  the  boat  was  temporarily  stopped  for  repairs, 
and  the  variation  of  the  compass  in  the  neighborhood  of  so  many 
arms,  caused  the  steamer  to  run  out  of  her  course  on  the  night  of  the 
loth ;  and  when  the  morning  broke,  the  invaders  found  themselves 
heading  for  the  narrow  entrance  of  the  harbor  of  Havana  ! 

The  course  of  the  steamer  was  instantly  altered ;  but  all  on  board 
momentarily  expected  the  apparition  of  a  war  steamer  from  the 
channel  between  the  Morro  and  the  Punta.  It  appeared,  afterwards, 
that  the  "  Pampero  "  was  signalized  as  a  strange  steamer,  but  not 
reported  as  suspicious  until  evening.  The  "  Pampero  "  then  made  for 
the  bay  of  Cabanas;  but,  just  as  she  was  turning  into  the  entrance,  a 
Spanish  frigate  and  sloop-of-war  were  seen  at  anchor,  the  first  of 


346  THE   CONSPIRACY   OF  LOPEZ. 

which  immediately  gave  chase;  but,  the  wind  falling,  the  frigate  gave 
it  up,  and  returned  to  the  bay  to  send  intelligence  of  the  expedition 
to  Havana. 

The  landing  was  finally  effected  at  midnight,  between  the  i  ith  and 
1 2th  of  August,  and  the  steamer  was  immediately  sent  off  to  the 
United  States  for  further  reinforcements.  As  it  was  necessary  to 
obtain  transportation  for  the  baggage,  General  Lopez  resolved  to 
leave  Colonel  Crittenden  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  men  to  guard 
it,  and  with  the  remainder  of  the  expedition  to  push  on  to  Las  Poza^j, 
a  village  about  ten  miles  distant,  whence  he  could  send  back  carts 
and  horses  to  receive  it.  Among  the  baggage  were  four  barrels  of 
powder,  two  of  cartridges,  the  officers'  effects,  including  the  arms  of 
the  general,  and  the  flag  of  the  expedition.  From  the  powder  and 
arms  they  should  not  have  separated,  but  have  divided  that,  against 
contingency. 

The  Invasion  a  Failure. 

In  the  meantime,  seven  picked  companies  of  Spanish  troops  of  the 
line  had  been  landed  at  Bahia  Honda,  which  force  was  strengthened 
by  contingents  drawn  from  the  neighborhood.  The  march  of  the 
invading  band  to  Las  Pozas  was  straggling  and  irregular.  On  reach 
ing  the  village,  they  found  it  deserted  by  the  inhabitants.  A  few 
carts  were  procured  and  sent  back  to  Crittenden,  that  he  might 
advance  with  the  baggage. 

Lopez  here  learned  from  a  countryman  of  the  preparations  making 
to  attack  him.  It  was  no  portion  of  his  plan  to  bring  the  men  into 
action  with  regular  troops,  in  their  present  undisciplined  state;  he 
proposed  rather  to  take  a  strong  position  in  the  mountains,  and  there 
plant  his  standard  as  a  rallying-point,  and  await  the  rising  of  the 
Cubans,  and  the  return  of  the  "  Pampero  "  with  reinforcements  for 
active  operations. 

A-s  soon  as  Lopez  learned  the  news  from  Bahia  Honda,  he  dis 
patched  a  peremptory  order  to  Crittenden  to  hasten  up  with  the  rear 
guard,  abandoning  the  heavy  baggage,  but  bringing  off  the  cartridges 
and  papers  of  the  expedition.  But  the  fatal  delay  of  Crittenden 
separated  him  forever  from  the  main  body,  only  a  small  detachment  of 


THE   CONSPIRACY   OF  LOPEZ.  347 

his  comrades  (under  Captain  Kelly)  ever  reaching  it.  The  next  day, 
while  breakfast  was  being  prepared  for  them,  the  soldiers  of  the  ex 
pedition  were  suddenly  informed,  by  a  volley  from  one  of  the  houses 
of  the  village,  that  the  Spanish  troops  were  upon  them. 

A  Spirited  Battle. 

They  flew  to  arms  at  once,  and  the  Cuban  company  dislodged  the 
vanguard  of  the  enemy,  who  had  fired,  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet, 
their  captain,  Oberto,  receiving  his  death-wound  in  the  spirited  affair. 
General  Enna,  a  brave  officer,  in  command  of  the  Spanish  troops, 
made  two  charges  in  column  on  the  centre  of  the  invaders'  line,  but 
was  repulsed  by  that  deadly  fire  which  is  the  preeminent  characteristic 
of  American  troops.  Four  men  alone  escaped  from  the  company 
heading  the  first  column,  and  seventeen  from  that  forming  the  advance 
of  the  second  column  of  attack.  The  Spaniards  were  seized  with  a 
panic,  and  fled. 

Lopez's  force  in  this  action  amounted  to  about  two  hundred  and 
eighty  men  ;  the  Spaniards  had  more  than  eight  hundred.  The  total 
loss  of  the  former,  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  thirty-five ;  that  of  the 
latter  about  two  hundred  men  killed,  and  a  large  number  wounded  ! 
The  invaders  landed  with  about  eighty  rounds  of  cartridges  each ; 
the  Spanish  dead  supplied  them  with  about  twelve  thousand  more  ; 
and  a  further  supply  was  subsequently  obtained  at  Las  Frias ;  the 
ammunition  left  with  Crittenden  was  never  recovered.  In  the  battle 
of  Las  Pozas,  General  Enna's  horse  was  shot  under  him,  and  his  second 
in  command  killed.  The  invaders  lost  Colonel  Downman,  a  brave 
American  officer ;  while  General  Pragay  was  wounded,  and  afterwards 
died  in  consequence. 

Though  the  invaders  fired  well  and  did  terrible  execution,  they 
could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  charge  the  enemy,  and  gave  great 
trouble  to  the  officers  by  their  insubordination.  The  night  after  the 
battle,  Captain  Kelly  came  up  with  forty  men,  and  announced  that  the 
Spanish  troops  had  succeeded  in  dividing  the  rear-guard,  and  that  the 
situation  of  Crittenden  was  unknown.  It  was  not  until  some  days 
afterwards  that  it  was  ascertained  that  Crittenden's  party,  attempting 


348  THE   CONSPIRACY   OF   LOPEZ. 

to  leave  the  Island  in  launches,  had  been  made  prisoners  by  a  Spanish 
man-of-war.  They  were  taken  to  Havana,  and  brutally  shot  at  the 
Castle  of  Atares. 

About  two  o'clock  on  the  i/j-th  of  August,  the  expedition  resumed 
its  march  for  the  interior,  leaving  behind  their  wounded,  who  were 
afterwards  killed  and  mutilated  by  the  Spaniards.  The  second  action 
with  the  Spanish  troops  occurred  at  the  coffee-plantation  of  Las 
Frias,  General  Enna  attacking  with  four  howitzers,  one  hundred  and 
twenty  cavalry,  and  twelve  hundred  infantry. 

Wandering  in  the  Mountains. 

The  Spanish  general  attacked  with  his  cavalry,  but  they  were  met 
by  a  deadly  fire,  thrown  into  utter  confusion,  and  forced  to  retreat, 
carrying  off  the  general  mortally  wounded.  The  panic  of  the  cavalry 
communicated  itself  to  the  infantry,  and  the  result  was  a  complete 
rout.  This  was  the  work  of  about  two  hundred  muskets,  for  many 
of  Lopez's  men  had  thrown  away  their  arms  on  the  long  and  toil 
some  march. 

The  expedition,  however,  was  too  weak  to  profit  by  their  desperate 
successes,  and  had  no  means  of  following  up  these  victories.  Plung 
ing  into  the  mountains,  they  wandered  about  for  days,  drenched  with, 
rain,  destitute  of  food  or  proper  clothing,  until  despair  at  last  seized 
them.  They  separated  from  each  other,  a  few  steadfast  comrades 
remaining  by  their  leader.  In  the  neighborhood  of  San  Cristobal, 
Lopez  finally  surrendered  to  a  party  of  pursuers.  He  was  treated 
with  every  indignity  by  his  captors,  though  he  submitted  to  every 
thing  with  courage  and  serenity.  He  was  taken  in  a  steamer  from 
Mariel  to  Havana. 

Arrived  here,  he  earnestly  desired  to  obtain  an  interview  with 
Concha,  who  had  been  an  old  companion-in-arms  with  him  in  Spain  ; 
not  that  he  expected  pardon  at  his  hands,  but  hoping  to  obtain  a 
change  in  the  manner  of  his  death.  His  soul  shrank  from  the  infa 
mous  garrote,  and  he  aspired  to  the  indulgence  of  the  cuatro  tiros 
(four  shots). 

Both   the   interview  and  the  indulgence  were  refused,  and  he  was 


THE   CONSPIRACY   OF   LOPEZ.  349 

executed  on  the  first  of  September,  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
in  the  Punta,  by  that  mode  of  punishment  which  the  Spaniards  esteem 
the  most  infamous  of  all.  When  he  landed  at  Bahia  Honda,  he 
stooped  and  kissed  the  earth,  with  the  fond  salutation,  "  Querida 
Cuba  "  (dear  Cuba) !  And  his  last  words,  pronounced  in  a  tone  of  deep 
tenderness,  were,  "  Muero  par  mi  amada  Cuba  ''  (I  die  for  my  beloved 
Cuba). 

General  Lopez  was  born  in  Venezuela,  South  America,  in  1798; 
and  hence,  at  the  time  of  his  execution,  must  have  been  about  fifty- 
two  years  of  age.  He  early  became  an  adopted  citizen  of  Cuba,  and 
espoused  one  of  its  daughters. 

The  remainder  of  the  prisoners  who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
authorities  were  sent  to  the  Moorish  fortress  of  Ceuta;  but  Spain 
seems  to  have  been  ashamed  of  the  massacre  of  Atares,  and  atoned 
for  the  ferocity  of  her  colonial  officials  by  leniency  towards  the  mis 
guided  men  of  the  expedition,  granting  them  a  pardon. 

Cause  of  the  Conspiracy. 

This  uprising,  or  rather  attempt  at  revolution,  was  all  due  to  the 
despotic  policy  pursued  by  Spain.  It  is  impossible  to  conceive  of 
any  degree  of  loyalty  that  would  be  proof  against  the  unparalleled 
burthens  and  atrocious  system  by  which  the  mother  country  has  ever 
loaded  and  weighed  down  her  western  colonists.  They  must  be 
either  more  or  less  than  men  if  they  still  cherish  attachment  to  a 
foreign  throne  under  such  circumstances.  But  the  fact  simply  is, 
the  Creoles  of  Cuba  are  neither  angels  nor  brutes;  they  are,  it  is  true, 
a  long-suffering  and  somewhat  indolent  people,  lacking  in  a  great 
degree  the  stern  qualities  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  and  the  Anglo-Norman 
races,  but  nevertheless  intelligent,  if  wanting  culture,  and  not  without 
those  noble  aspirations  for  independence  and  freedom,  destitute  of 
which  they  would  cease  to  be  men,  justly  forfeiting  all  claim  to  our 
sympathy  and  consideration. 

During  the  brief  intervals  in  which  a  liberal  spirit  was  manifested 
towards  the  colony  by  the  home  government,  the  Cubans  gave  proof 
of  talent  and  energy,  which,  had  they  been  permitted  to  attain  their 


350  THE   CONSPIRACY   OF  LOPEZ. 

full  development,  would  have  given  them  a  highly  honorable  name 
and  distinguished  character.  When  the  field  for  genius  was  com 
paratively  clear,  Cuba  produced  more  than  one  statesman  and  man  of 
science,  who  would  have  done  honor  to  a  more  favored  land. 

But  these  cheering  rays  of  light  were  soon  extinguished,  and  the 
fluctuating  policy  of  Spain  settled  down  into  the  rayless  and  brutal 
despotism  which  has  become  its  normal  condition,  and  a  double  dark 
ness  closed  upon  the  political  and  intellectual  prospects  of  Cuba. 
But  the  people  are  not,  and  have  not  been,  the  supine  and  idle  victims 
of  tyranny  which  Spain  depicts  them.  The  reader  will  remember  the 
several  times  they  have  attempted,  manacled  as  they  are,  to  free  their 
limbs  from  the  chains  that  bind  them.  It  is  insulting  and  idle  to  say 
that  they  might  have  been  free  if  they  had  earnestly  desired  and 
mad~  the  effort  for  freedom. 

Parallel  Cases  in  History. 

Who  can  say  what  would  have  been  the  result  of  our  own  struggle 
for  independence,  if  Great  Britain,  at  the  outset,  had  been  as  well 
prepared  for  resistance  as  Spain  has  always  been  in  Cuba?  Who 
can  say  how  long  and  painful  would  have  been  the  struggle,  if  one  of 
the  most  powerful  military  nations  of  Europe  had  not  listened  to  our 
despairing  appeal,  and  thrown  the  weight  of  her  gold  and  her  arms 
into  the  scale  against  our  great  enemy  ? 

When  we  see  how — as  we  do  clearly — in  a  single  night  the  well- 
contrived  schemes  of  an  adroit  and  unprincipled  knave  enslaved  a 
brilliant  and  war-like  people,  like  the  French,  who  had  more  than 
once  tasted  the  fruits  of  republican  glory  and  liberty,  who  had  borne 
their  free  flag  in  triumph  over  more  than  half  of  Europe,  we  can 
understand  why  the  Cubans,  overawed  from  the  very  outset,  by  the 
presence  of  a  force  vastly  greater  in  proportion  than  that  which 
enslaved  France,  have  been  unable  to  achieve  their  deliverance. 

Nay,  more — when  we  consider  the  system  pursued  by  the  govern 
ment  of  the  Island,  the  impossibility  of  forming  assemblages,  and  of 
concerting  action,  the  presence  of  troops  and  spies  everywhere,  the 
compulsory  silence  of  the  press — the  violation  of  the  sanctity  of  cor- 


THE   CONSPIRACY   OF   LOPEZ,  351 

respondence — we  can  only  wonder  that  any  effort  has  been  made,  any 
step  taken  in  that  fatal  pathway  of  revolution  which  leads  imallibly 
to  the  garrote. 

If  Cuba  lies  at  present  under  the  armed  heel  of  despotism,  we  may 
be  sure  that  the  anguish  of  her  sons  is  keenly  aggravated  by  their 
perfect  understanding  of  our  own  liberal  institutions,  and  an  earnest, 
if  fruitless,  desire  to  participate  in  their  enjoyment.  It  is  beyond  the 
power  of  the  Spanish  government  to  keep  the  people  of  the  Island  in 
a  state  of  complete  darkness,  as  it  seems  to  desire  to  do.  The  young 
men  of  Cuba  educated  at  our  colleges  and  schools,  the  visitors  from 
the  United  States,  and  American  merchants  established  on  the  Island, 
are  all  so  many  apostles  of  republicanism,  and  propagandists  of 
treason  and  rebellion. 

They  Only  Await  the  Opportunity. 

Nor  can  the  captains-general  with  all  their  vigilance  exclude  what 
they  are  pleased  to  call  incendiary  newspapers  and  documents  from 
pretty  extensive  circulation  among  the  "  ever  faithful."  That  liberal 
ideas  and  hatred  of  Spanish  despotism  are  widely  entertained  among 
the  Cubans  is  a  fact  no  one  who  has  passed  a  brief  period  among 
them  can  truthfully  deny.  They  await  only  the  means  and  the  oppor 
tunity  to  rise  in  rebellion  against  Spain.  We  are  too  far  distant  to 
see  more  than  the  light  smoke,  but  those  who  have  trodden  the  soil 
of  Cuba  have  sounded  the  depths  of  the  volcano. 

The  history  of  the  unfortunate  Lopez  expedition  proves  nothing 
contrary  to  this.  The  force  under  Lopez  afforded  too  weak  a  nucleus, 
was  too  hastily  thrown  upon  the  Island,  too  ill  prepared,  and  too 
untimely  attacked,  to  enable  the  native  patriots  to  rally  round  its 
standard,  and  thus  to  second  the  efforts  of  the  invaders.  With  no 
ammunition  nor  arms  to  spare,  recruits  would  have  only  added  to  the 
embarrassment  of  the  adventurers. 

Yet  had  Lopez  been  joined  by  the  brave  but  unfortunate  Critten- 
den,  with  what  arms  and  ammunition  he  possessed,  had  he  gained 
some  fastness  where  he  could  have  been  disciplining  his  command, 
nntil  further  aid  arrived,  the  adventure  might  have  had  a  very  differ- 


352  THE   CONSPIRACY  OF   LOPEZ. 

ent  termination  from  what  we  have  recorded  in  an  early  chapter  of 
this  book. 

Disastrous  as  was  the  result  of  the  Lopez  expedition,  it  nevertne- 
less  proved  two  important  facts :  first,  the  bravery  of  the  Cubans,  a. 
small  company  of  whom  drove  the  enemy  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet ;  and,  .secondly,  the  inefficiency  of  Spanish  troops  when 
opposed  by  resolute  men.  If  a  large  force  of  picked  Spanish  troops 
were  decimated  and  routed  in  two  actions,  by  a  handful  of  ill-armed 
and  undisciplined  men,  taken  by  surprise,  we  are  justified  in  believ 
ing  that  if  an  effective  force  of  ten  thousand  men,  comprising  the 
several  arms  of  cavalry,  artillery,  and  infantry,  had  been  thrown  into 
the  Island,  they  would  have  carried  all  before  them.  With  such  a 
body  of  men  to  rally  upon,  the  Cubans  would  have  risen  in  the 
departments  of  the  Island,  and  her  best  transatlantic  jewel  would  have 
been  torn  fom  the  diadem  of  Spain. 

American  Sympathy  for  Cuba. 

That  the  Spanish  government  lived  in  constant  dread  of  a  renewal 
of  the  efforts  on  the  part  of  Americans  and  exiled  Cubans  to  aid  the 
disaffected  people  of  the  Island  in  throwing  off  its  odious  yoke,  is  a 
notorious  fact,  and  there  were  evidences  in  the  conduct  of  its 
officials  towards  those  of  this  government  that  it  regarded  the  latter 
as  secretly  favoring  such  illegal  action.  Yet  the  steps  taken  by  our 
government  to  crush  any  such  attempts  were  decided  enough  to 
satisfy  any  but  a  jealous  and  unreasonable  power. 

President  Fillmore,  in  his  memorable  proclamation,  said,  '  Such 
expeditions  can  only  be  regarded  as  adventures  for  plunder  and 
robbery,"  and  declaring  Americans  who  engaged  in  them  outlaws, 
informed  them  that  "  they  would  forfeit  their  claim  to  the  protection 
of  this  government,  or  any  interference  in  their  behalf,  no  matter  to 
what  extremity  they  might  be  reduced  in  consequence  of  their  illegal 
conduct."  In  accordance  with  this  declaration,  the  brave  Crittenden 
and  his  men  were  allowed  to  be  shot  at  Atares,  though  they  were  not 
taken  with  arms  in  their  hands,  had  abandoned  the  expedition,  and 
were  seeking  to  escape  from  the  Island. 


THE  CONSPIRACY   OF   LOPEZ.  353 

In  a  similar  spirit  President  Pierce  alluded  to  our  relations  with 
Spain  in  his  inaugural  address,  in  the  following  explicit  terms : 
"  Indeed  it  is  not  to  be  disguised  that  our  attitude  as  a  nation,  and 
our  position  on  the  globe,  render  the  acquisition  of  certain  posses 
sions,  not  within  our  jurisdiction,  eminently  important,  if  not,  in  the 
future,  essential  for  the  preservation  of  the  rights  of  commerce  and 
the  peace  of  the  world.  Should  they  be  obtained,  it  will  be  through 
no  grasping  spirit,  but  with  a  view  to  obvious  national  interest  and 
security,  and  in  a  manner  entirely  consistent  with  the  strictest  ob» 
servance  of  national  faith." 

Honorable  Attitude  of  our  Government. 

A  subsequent  proclamation,  emanating  from  the  same  source,  and 
warning  our  citizens  of  the  consequences  of  engaging  in  an  invasion 
of  the  Island,  also  attested  the  determination  to  maintain  the  integrity 
of  our  relations  with  an  allied  power. 

No  candid  student  of  the  history  of  our  relations  with  Spain  can 
fail  to  be  impressed  by  the  frank  and  honorable  attitude  of  our  gov 
ernment,  or  to  contrast  its  acts  with  those  of  the  Spanish  officials  of 
Cuba.  A  history  of  the  commercial  intercourse  of  our  citizens  with 
the  Island  would  be  a  history  of  petty  and  also  serious  annoyances 
and  grievances  to  which  they  have  been  subjected  for  a  series  of  years 
by  the  Spanish  officials,  increasing  in  magnitude  as  the  latter  have 
witnessed  the  forbearance  and  magnanimity  of  our  government. 

Not  an  American  merchant  or  captain,  who  had  dealings  with  Cuba, 
but  could  furnish  his  list  of  insults  and  outrages,  some  in  the  shape 
of  illegal  extortions  and  delays,  others  merely  gratuitous  ebullitions 
of  spite  and  malice  dictated  by  a  hatred  of  our  country  and  its  citi 
zens.  Instances  of  outrage  so  flagrant  occurred,  that  the  executive 
felt  bound  to  call  the  attention  of  Congress  to  them  in  a  message,  in 
which  he  pointed  out  the  great  evil  which  lay  at  the  bottom,  and  also 
the  remedy. 

"  The  offending  party,"  he  said,  "  is  at  our  doors  with  large  power 
for  aggression,  but  none,  it  is  alleged,  for  reparation.  The  source  of 
redress  is  in  another  hemisphere  ;  and  the  answers  to  our  just  com- 
23 


354  THE  CONSPIRACY  OF  LOPEZ. 

plaints,  made  to  the  home  government,  are  but  the  repetition  of 
excuses  rendered  by  inferior  officials  to  the  superiors,  in  reply  to  the 
representations  of  misconduct.  In  giving  extraordinary  power  to 
them,  she  owes  it  to  justice,  and  to  her  friendly  relations  to  this  gov 
ernment,  to  guard  with  great  vigilance  against  the  exorbitant  exercise 
of  these  powers,  and  in  case  of  injuries  to  provide  for  prompt  redress." 
It  is  very  clear  that  if,  in  such  cases  as  the  seizure  of  a  vessel  and 
her  cargo  by  the  port  officers  at  Havana,  for  an  alleged  violation  of 
revenue  laws,  or  even  port  usages,  redress,  in  case  of  official  miscon 
duct,  could  only  be  had  by  reference  to  the  home  government  in 
another  part  of  the  world,  our  trade  with  Cuba  would  be  completely 
paralyzed.  The  delay  and  difficulty  in  obtaining  such  redress,  in  too 
many  cases,  prompted  extortion  on  the  one  hand,  and  acquiescence 
to  injustice  on  the  other. 

Seizure  of  American  Vessels. 

In  1851  two  American  vessels  were  seized  off  Yucatan  by  the 
Spanish  authorities  on  suspicion  of  being  engaged  in  the  Lopez  ex 
pedition  ;  in  the  same  year  the  steamship  "  Falcon  "  was  wantonly 
fired  upon  by  a  Spanish  government  vessel ;  in  1852  the  American 
mail  bags  were  forcibly  opened,  and  their  contents  examined  by  order 
of  the  Captain-General;  the  "Crescent  City"  was  not  allowed  to  land 
her  passengers  and  mails,  simply  because  the  purser,  Smith,  was 
obnoxious  to  the  government  of  the  Island. 

The  "  Black  Warrior,"  fired  into  on  one  voyage,  was  seized  for  a 
violation  of  a  custom-house  form.  More  than  once,  on  specious  pre 
texts,  were  American  sailors  taken  from  American  vessels  and 
thrown  into  Spanish  prisons.  In  short,  the  insults  offered  by  Span 
ish  officials  to  our  flag  so  multiplied  that  the  popular  indignation  in 
the  country  reached  an  alarming  height. 

It  is  difficult  for  a  republic  and  a  despotism,  situated  like  the 
United  States  and  Cuba,  to  live  on  neighborly  terms ;  and  to  control 
the  indignation  of  the  citizens  of  the  former,  proud  and  high-spirited, 
conscious  of  giving  no  offence,  and  yet  subjected  to  repeated  insults, 
is  a  task  almost  too  great  for  the  most  adroit  and  pacific  administra- 


THE   CONSPIRACY  OF   LOPEZ.  355 

tion.  Had  she  possessed  more  foresight  and  less  pride,  Spain  would 
have  long  since  sold  the  Island  to  the  United  States,  and  thereby 
have  relieved  herself  of  a  weighty  care  and  a  most  dangerous  prop 
erty. 

"So  far  from  being  really  injured  by  the  loss  of  the  Island,"  said 
Hon.  Edward  Everett,  in  his  able  and  well-known  letter  to  the  Brit 
ish  minister  rejecting  the  proposition  for  the  tripartite  convention, 
"  there  is  no  doubt  that,  were  it  peacefully  transferred  to  the  United 
States,  a  prosperous  commerce  between  Cuba  and  Spain,  resulting 
from  ancient  associations  and  common  language  and  tastes,  would  be 
far  more  productive  than  the  best-contrived  system  of  colonial  taxa 
tion.  Such,  notoriously,  has  been  the  result  to  Great  Britain  of  the 
establishment  of  the  independence  of  the  United  States." 

Bold  Utterances  in  Congress. 

The  following  remarks  are  quoted  from  a  conservative  speech  of 
Mr.  Latham,  then  member  of  Congress  from  California.  They  pre 
sent,  with  emphasis,  some  of  the  points  we  have  lightly  touched  upon. 

"  I  admit  that  our  relations  with  Spain,  growing  out  of  that  Island 
(Cuba),  are  of  an  extremely  delicate  nature;  that  the  fate  of  that 
Island,  its  misgovernment,  its  proximity  to  our  shores,  and  the  par 
ticular  institutions  established  upon  it,  are  of  vast  importance  to  the 
peace  and  security  of  this  country;  and  that  the  utmost  vigilance  in 
regard  to  it  is  not  only  demanded  by  prudence,  but  aa  act  of 
imperative  duty  on  the  part  of  our  government.  The  Island  of  Cuba 
commands,  in  a  measure,  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

"  In  case  of  a  maritime  war,  in  which  the  United  States  may  be 
engaged,  its  possession  by  the  enemy  might  become  a  source  of  infi 
nite  annoyance  to  us,  crippling  our  shipping,  threatening  the  great 
emporium  of  our  southern  commerce,  and  exposing  our  whole 
southern  coast,  from  the  capes  of  Florida  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  to  the  enemy's  cruisers.  The  geographical  position  of 
Cuba  is  such  that  we  cannot,  without  a  total  disregard  to  our  own 
safety,  permit  it  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  any  first-class  power ;  nay, 
that  it  would  be  extremely  imprudent  to  allow  it  to  pass  even  into 


356  THE   CONSPIRACY   OF   LOPEZ. 

the  hands  of  a  power  of  the  second  rank,  possessed  of  energy  and 
capacity  for  expansion." 

"  Rich  in  soil,  salubrious  in  climate,  varied  in  productions,  the 
home  of  commerce,"  said  the  Hon.  O.  R.  Singleton,  of  Mississippi, 
"  Cuba  seems  to  have  been  formed  to  become  '  the  very  button  on 
Fortune's  cap.'  Washed  by  the  Gulf-stream  on  half  her  borders, 
with  the  Mississippi  pouring  out  its  rich  treasures  on  one  side,  and 
the  Amazon,  destined  to  become  a  '  cornucopia/  on  the  other, — with 
the  ports  of  Havana  and  Matanzas  on  the  north,  and  the  Isle  of 
Pines  and  St.  Jago  de  Cuba  on  the  south,  Nature  has  written  upon 
her,  in  legible  characters,  a  destiny  far  above  that  of  a  subjugated 
province  of  a  rotten  European  dynasty. 

"  Her  home  is  in  the  bosom  of  the  North  American  confederacy. 
Like  a  lost  Pleiad,  she  may  wander  on  for  a  few  months  or  years  in 
lawless,  chaotic  confusion ;  but,  ultimately,  the  laws  of  nature  and  of 
nations  will  vindicate  themselves,  and  she  will  assume  her  true  social 
and  political  condition,  despite  the  diplomacy  of  statesmen,  the 
trickery  of  knaves,  or  the  frowns  of  tyrants. 

"  Cuba  will  be  free.  The  spirit  is  abroad  among  her  people ;  and, 
although  they  dare  not  give  utterance  to  their  thoughts,  lest  some 
treacherous  breeze  should  bear  them  to  a  tyrant's  ears,  still  they  think 
and  feel,  and  will  act  when  the  proper  time  shall  arrive.  The  few 
who  have  dared  '  to  do  or  die '  have  fallen,  and  their  blood  still  marks 
the  spot  where  they  fell.  Such  has  been  the  case  in  all  great  revolu 
tionary  struggles.  Those  who  lead  the  van  must  expect  a  sharp  en 
counter  before  they  break  through  the  serried  hosts  of  tyranny,  and 
many  a  good  man  falls  upon  the  threshold  of  the  temple. 

"  '  But  freedom's  battle  once  begun, 
Bequeathed  from  bleeding  sire  to  son, 
Though  baffled  oft,  is  always  won.'  " 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 
The  Bitter  Ten- Years'  War. 

SOON  after  the  events  narrated  in  the  preceding  chapter  a 
Reformist  party  sprang  up,  desirous  of  coming  to  a  settlement 
which  should  insure  the  rights  of  the  colony  without  impair 
ing  the  interests  of  Spain,  and  after  protracted  efforts  this  party  suc 
ceeded  in  obtaining  an  inquiry  at  Madrid  on  the  reforms  needed  by 
Cuba ;  but  the  only  alteration  decreed  was  that  of  a  new  system  of 
taxation,  more  depressive  than  the  former.  Great  sympathy  had 
long  been  shown  for  the  Cubans  by  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
and  in  1848  President  Polk  had  gone  the  length  of  proposing  through 
the  American  ambassador  at  Madrid  a  transference  of  the  Island  to 
the  United  States  for  a  sum  of  $1,000,000. 

A  similar  proposal  was  made  ten  years  afterwards  in  the  Senate — 
the  sum  suggested  being  $30,000,000 — but  after  debate  it  was  with 
drawn.  When  the  Spanish  revolution  of  1868  broke  out  the  ad 
vanced  party  in  Cuba  at  once  matured  their  plans  for  the  liberation 
of  the  Island  from  the  military  despotism  of  Spain,  rose  in  arms  at 
Yara  in  the  district  of  Bayamo,  and  made  a  declaration  of  independ 
ence,  dated  at  Manzanillo,  on  the  loth  of  October  of  that  year.  This 
insurrection  soon  assumed  formidable  dimensions  in  the  eastern  por 
tion  of  the  Island ;  on  the  i8th  of  October  the  town  of  Bayamo  was 
taken,  and  on  the  28th  the  jurisdiction  of  Holguin  rose  in  arms. 

Early  in  November  the  patriots  defeated  a  force  which  had  been 
sent  against  them  from  Santiago  de  Cuba,  and  the  greater  number  of 
the  Spanish-American  republics  hastened  to  recognize  the  Cubans  as 
belligerents.  During  subsequent  years,  in  spite  of  the  large  and 
continued  increase  of  the  number  of  troops  sent  from  Spain-  and 
organized  by  the  Spanish  authorities  in  the  Island,  the  yearly  cam 
paigns  up  to  the  present  time  have  shown  that  in  the  eastern  interioi 

867 


358  THE  BITTER  TEN-YEARS'   WAR. 

the  Cuban  patriots  are  practically  invincible,  and  that  by  maintaining 
a  guerrilla  warfare  they  can  attack  and  harass  and  even  defeat  their 
enemies  who  may  be  bold  enough  to  act  on  the  aggressive. 

In  the  long  war  above  referred  to,  the  insurgents  were  nevei 
accorded  belligerent  rights  by  any  power  strong  enough  to  take 
Spain  by  the  throat  and  force  her  to  conduct  operations  under  the 
reasonable  humanities  of  modern  war.  The  peculiar  form  of  Cuba 
renders  the  control  of  every  port  easy  to  the  Spanish  navy ;  and 
although  battles  were  won  and  campaigns  steadily  conducted  for  ten 
years  by  the  insurgents,  the  United  States  government  chose  to  close 
its  eyes  to  the  truth.  The  real  facts  were,  not  that  a  state  of  war  was 
not  fully  demonstrated,  but  the  "  Alabama  "  claims  were  in  the  air,  and 
we  were  ready  first  to  turn  our  backs  on  Cuba  in  order  not  to 
prejudice  our  money  case  against  England,  and  after  the  payment  of 
the  award,  the  precedent  was  still  too  fresh. 

Balmaceda's  Proclamation. 

The  South  American  republics  which  recognized  Cuban  belli 
gerency  were  powerless,  and  Europe  remained  indifferent.  Thus 
Spain,  left  unrestrained  by  foreign  powers,  worked  her  will  with  a 
cynical  frankness  that  laid  bare  her  full  savagery.  The  war  having 
begun,  General  Count  Balmaceda  published  the  following  proclama 
tion  : 

"  Inhabitants  of  the  country  !  The  reinforcements  of  troops  that 
I  have  been  waiting  for  have  arrived ;  with  them  I  shall  give  protec 
tion  to  the  good,  and  punish  promptly  those  that  still  remain  in 
rebellion  against  the  government  of  the  metropolis. 

"  You  know  that  I  have  pardoned  those  who  have  fought  us  with 
arms  ;  that  your  wives,  mothers,  and  sisters  have  found  in  me  the 
unexpected  protection  that  you  have  refused  them.  You  know,  also, 
that  many  of  those  we  have  pardoned  have  turned  against  us  again. 

"  Before  such  ingratitude,  such  villainy,  it  is  not  possible  for  me  to 
be  the  man  that  I  have  been  ;  there  is  no  longer  a  place  for  a  falsified 
neutrality  ;  he  that  is  not  for  me  is  against  me  ;  and  that  my  soldiers 
may  know  how  to  distinguish,  you  hear  the  order  they  carry ; 


THE   BITTER   TEN- YEARS'   WAR.  359 

"  1st.  Every  man,  from  the  age  of  fifteen  years  upward,  found  away 
from  his  habitation  (finca),  and  who  does  not  prove  a  justified  motive 
therefor,  will  be  shot. 

"  2d.  Every  habitation  unoccupied  will  be  burned  by  the  troops. 

"  3d.  Every  habitation  from  which  does  not  float  a  white  flag,  as  a 
signal  that  its  occupants  desire  peace,  will  be  reduced  to  ashes. 

"  Women  that  are  not  living  at  their  own  homes,  or  at  the  houses 
of  their  relatives,  will  collect  in  the  town  of  Jiguani,  or  Bayamo, 
where  maintenance  will  be  provided.  Those  who  do  not  present 
themselves  will  be  conducted  forcibly. 

"  The  foregoing  determinations  will  commence  to  take  effect  on  the 
14th  of  the  present  month. 

"  EL  CONDE  DE  BALMACEDA. 

"  Bayamo,  April  4,  1869." 

Tyrants  Quoting  the  Bible. 

Spanish  tyrants  are  always  deeply  Christian,  so  that  it  can  hardly 
be  supposed  that  Balmaceda,  in  using  solemn  words  of  the  Saviour, 
did  so  unconscious  that  the  source  of  his  phrase  is  the  source  of 
divine  compassion  to  men. 

A  month  later,  Mr.  Fish,  then  Secretary  of  State,  correctly  branded 
this  proclamation  as  "  infamous,"  and  wrote  in  a  letter  to  Sefior  Lopez 
Roberts  (Spanish  Minister  to  the  United  States) : 

"  In  the  interest  of  Christian  civilization  and  common  humanity,  I 
hope  that  this  document  is  a  forgery.  If  it  indeed  be  genuine,  the 
President  instructs  me  in  the  most  forcible  manner  to  protest  against 
such  mode  of  warfare." 

We  have  not  forgotten  the  wanton  butchery  of  Americans  in  the 
"  Virginius  "  affair.  It  remains  of  value  as  a  proved  example  with 
out  which  we  should  be  slow  to  believe  that  Spanish  generals  habit 
ually  shot  insurgents  captured  in  battle,  as  in  fact  they  did.  A  pub 
lished  record  of  the  Spanish  barbarities  of  the  war  gives  in  detail  a 
list  of  2,927  "  Martyrs  to  Liberty," — political  prisoners  executed 
during  the  war, — and  of  4,672  captured  insurgents  whose  fate  has 
never  been  made  known.  There  were  13,000  confiscations  of  estates, 


360  THE   BITTER   TEN- YEARS'   WAR. 

1,000  being  those  of  ladies  whose  only  crime  was  the  love  of  Cuban 
liberty. 

The  experience  of  American  newspaper  correspondents,  like 
O'Kelly,  in  rebel  camps  and  Spanish  prisons,  confirms  the  revolting 
character  of  the  Spanish  conduct  of  the  war ;  and  there  are  extant 
letters  of  Spanish  officers  which  throw  gleams  of  light  into  the  dark 
ness  of  the  period.  A  specimen  or  two  are  enough. 

Last  Words  for  Ouba. 

Jesus  Rivocoba,  under  date  of  September  4,  1869,  writes: 

"  We  captured  seventeen,  thirteen  of  whom  were  shot  outright ;  on 
dying  they  shouted,  '  Hurrah  for  Free  Cuba,  hurrah  for  Independ 
ence.'  A  mulatto  said,  '  Hurrah  for  Cespedes.'  On  the  following 
day  we  killed  a  Cuban  officer  and  another  man.  Among  the  thirteen 
that  we  shot  the  first  day  were  found  three  sons  and  their  father  ;  the 
father  witnessed  the  execution  of  his  sons  without  even  changing 
color,  and  when  his  turn  came  he  said  he  died  for  the  independence 
of  his  country.  On  coming  back  we  brought  along  with  us  three 
carts  filled  with  women  and  children,  the  families  of  those  we  had 
shot ;  and  they  asked  us  to  shoot  them,  because  they  would  rather 
die  than  live  among  Spaniards." 

Pedro  Fardon,  another  officer,  who  entered  perfectly  into  the  spirit 
of  the  service  he  honored,  writes  on  September  22,  1869  : 

"  Not  a  single  Cuban  will  remain  in  this  Island,  because  we  shoot 
all  those  we  find  in  the  fields,  on  the  farms,  and  in  every  hovel." 

And  again,  on  the  same  day,  the  same  officer  sends  the  following 
good  news  to  his  old  father : 

"  We  do  not  leave  a  creature  alive  where  we  pass,  be  it  man  or 
animal.  If  we  find  cows,  we  kill  them ;  if  horses,  ditto ;  if  hogs, 
ditto ;  men,  women,  or  children,  ditto ;  as  to  the  houses,  we  burn 
them  :  so  every  one  receives  his  due, — the  men  in  balls,  the  animals 
in  bayonet-thrusts.  The  Island  will  remain  a  desert." 

Balmaceda  himself  paid  a  visit  to  the  plantation  home  of  the  Mora 
family,  and,  there  being  no  male  patriots  on  whom  to  wreak  his  lust 
for  blood,  butchered  and  burned  the  sisters  Mora  and  left  their  home 


THE   BITTER  TEN- YEARS'   WAR.  361 

in  ashes.  A  mere  enumeration  of  authentic  cases  of  Spanish  inhu 
manity  in  the  last  insurrection  would  fill  volumes  and  exhibit  one  of 
the  blackest  episodes  of  history. 

The  following  paragraphs  are  from  an  able  article  by  Mr.  Clarence 
King,  on  the  question,  "  Shall  Cuba  be  Free  ?  "  and  published  in 
"  The  Forum  "  : 

"  In  Spanish  character  survives  a  continuous  trait  of  the  Pagan 
cruelty  of  Rome,  reinforced  and  raised  to  fiendish  intensity  by  the 
teachings  of  the  Inquisition.  Had  the  United  States,  by  one  stroke 
of  her  pen,  recognized  Cuban  belligerency,  as  was  her  moral  duty, 
all  the  Caligula-Torquemada  atrocities  would  have  been  stopped,  and 
the  war  for  freedom  gone  on  to  victory  unstained  by  the  blood  of 
women  and  children.  President  Grant  lost  this  noblest  opportunity 
of  his  civil  career  by  miserable  anxiety  about  the  '  Alabama  '  claims. 

Willing  to  Stake  Everything. 

"  Cubans  are  under  no  delusion  as  to  the  fateful  step  they  have 
taken ;  the  men  who  survived  the  scourge  of  the  ten-years'  war,  in 
rushing  to  arms  again,  act  in  full  consciousness  of  what  they  are 
doing,  and  willingly  face  the  cruel  odds.  If  this  were  a  first  effort  to 
acquire  freedom  it  might  be  attributed  to  the  over-confident  enthusi 
asm  of  a  brave  people  inexperienced  in  war  and  its  train  of  suffering 
and  grief,  and  ignorant  of  the  combination  of  money,  material,  and 
men  their  enemy  can  hurl  against  her. 

"  But  these  are  the  very  people  who  half  a  generation  ago  fought 
ten  years,  and  felt  the  shock  of  200,000  Spanish  soldiers,  and  suffered 
as  no  modern  combatants  have  done.  They  enter  this  war  as  bravely 
as  before,  but  with  eyes  open  and  with  memory  loaded  down  with 
visions  of  agony  and  blood.  Of  that  adoration  of  liberty  which  is 
the  only  sure  foundation  of  modern  representative  government,  this 
insurrection  is  as  pure  and  lofty  an  example  as  the  course  of  human 
history  can  show. 

"  That  all  the  material  advantages  of  war  are  against  them  can 
easily  be  seen.  In  the  first  place,  Cuba  is  a  long,  narrow  Island 
about  seven  hundred  miles  in  east-and-west  extent,  by  a  north-and* 


362  THE   BITTER   TEN-YEARS'   WAR. 

south  breadth  of  twenty-one  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  It 
possesses  a  truly  remarkable  series  of  great  and  small  harbors :  the 
more  important  ones  roomy  and  landlocked,  like  those  of  Havana, 
Cienfuegos,  Santiago,  and  others  of  the  type ;  and  the  small  but  often 
admirable  ones  strung  at  short  intervals  along  the  whole  2,000  miles 
of  sea-coast.  The  greater  harbors  are  fortified. 

"  Spain  has  a  respectable  navy,  and  has,  in  fact,  occupied  all  the 
chief  and  several  of  the  small  harbors  with  fifteen  vessels  of  war.  She 
has,  besides,  a  fleet  of  light-draught  gunboats,  partly  in  use  and  partly 
under  contract  on  the  Clyde,  and  soon  to  be  available  for  cruising 
perpetually  along  the  short  intervals  of  shore  between  the  various 
harbors  which  are  occupied  by  larger  war-vessels.  In  her  centuries 
of  neglect  of  useful  public  works  in  Cuba  she  has  built  practically  no 
wagon-roads,  so  that  if  the  insurgents  possessed  artillery,  which  they 
cannot  obtain,  they  could  not,  save  by  an  almost  superhuman  effort, 
move  it  to  concentration  for  the  capture  of  one  of  the  ports. 

Harbors  Blockaded. 

"  Spain,  on  the  other  hand,  holds  the  few  rudimentary  roads  within 
the  theatre  of  war,  and  whatever  use  of  field  guns  is  possible  is  there 
fore  for  Spain  alone.  Not  only  is  every  important  harbor  under 
effective  blockade  against  insurgent  people  and  freight,  but  it  is 
a  secure  base  of  supplies.  Practically  seventy  miles  would  be  a 
maximum  distance  for  any  considerable  operation  from  a  safely- 
maintained — even  an  unthreatened — base,  and  the  average  cannot  be 
above  fifty  miles. 

"  Spain  therefore  begins  her  campaign  to  quell  the  Cubans  with  a 
cordon  of  impregnable  bases,  to  which  at  all  times  she  has  unre 
stricted  access  by  a  sea  on  which  not  a  single  Cuban  flag  floats, 
except  on  some  hovering,  unarmed  sea-tug  or  timid  blockade-runner 
which  avoids  the  ports  and  creeps  in  under  cover  of  darkness  to  bring 
a  handful  of  patriots  or  some  boxes  of  arms.  By  means  of  this  com 
plete  chain  of  fortified  and  occupied  harbors,  Spain  can  pour  in  the 
whole  resources  of  the  nation  in  men,  supplies,  and  munitions,  without 
3  moment's  interruption  or  a  shadow  of  danger.  These  resources  are 


THE   BITTER   TEN-YEARS'   WAR.  363 

a  peninsula  population  of  17,000,000  to  draw  from,  and  a  standing 
army,  which,  on  a  peace  basis,  carries  115,735  men,  and  reaches  in 
nominal  war  resource  something  more  than  1,000,000. 

"  Financial  advantage  is  also  wholly  with  Spain.  Although  bent 
under  a  debt  of  over  a  thousand  millions  of  dollars,  and  her  fiscal 
affairs  in  such  wretched  condition  that  there  has  been  no  parliamen 
tary  endorsement  of  expenditures  since  1865-67,  and  the  Tribunal  of 
Accounts  has  not  dared  to  publish  the  national  books  since  1869, — 
nevertheless  Spain  is  a  nation  still  possessing  the  shattered  remnants 
of  a  public  credit. 

"  She  can  vote  bonds,  and  there  is  even  yet  a  price  at  which  they 
can  be  sold.  Her  soldiery  face  death  with  courage,  in  spite  of 
Napier's  epigram  that  "  Spaniards  are  brave  behind  walls,  cowards  in 
the  field,  and  robbers  always," — their  conduct  in  action  in  Cuba  dis 
proving  the  middle  term  of  an  otherwise  correct  characterization. 

"The  Spanish  Military  Gazette  gives  the  figures  of  the  national 
forces  in  Cuba  as  follows :  60,000  regulars,  the  chief  part  of  which 
are  infantry,  but  including  cavalry,  2,596;  artillery,  621;  engineers, 
415;  public-order  officers,  676;  civil  guards,  4,400 ;  marines,  2,700; 
guerrillas,  1,152;  the  whole  under  one  captain-general,  seven  division 
generals,  one  auditor,  one  military  intendant,  one  sanitary  inspector, 
and  the  usual  complement  of  staff  and  line  officers.  Besides  this 
there  are  about  40,000  Cuban  militia  recruited  from  the  loyal  classes 
and  used  chiefly  for  garrison  purposes.  There  are  fifteen  warships 
and  nineteen  vessels  in  purchase. 

"All  Cuba  has  a  population  of  about  1,600,000,  of  which  more 
than  half  are  in  garrison  cities  and  regions  so  overawed  by  the  power 
of  Spain  that  they  cannot  successfully  rise  until  the  national  forces 
are  shattered  in  the  field.  Of  the  portion  in  revolt  (about  two-thirds 
of  the  area  and  one-third  of  the  population)  it  is  probable  that  of  the 
total  number  of  a  sex,  age  and  physical  condition  to  bear  arms,  the 
figure  would  not  exceed  the  actual  peace  force  of  the  Spanish  army, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  17,000,000  which  the  enemy  have  to  draw 
upon. 

"  Impoverished  by  centuries  of  financial    oppression,  the  Cuban 


364  THE   BITTER   TEN-YEARS'   WAS.. 

patriots  are  poor,  their  slender  resources  are  the  sum  of  innumerable 
small  contributions.  Few  in  number,  empty  of  purse,  they  stand 
within  this  tight-drawn  ring  of  Spanish  fire.  Cut  off  from  any  but 
dangerous  and  clandestine  introduction  of  arms  and  medicines ;  lack 
ing  supplies  to  form  a  base ;  with  not  a  cent  to  pay  a  single  soldier 
or  officer  of  their  little  army ;  with  only  a  skeleton  medical  corps, — 
in  short,  almost  nothing  to  make  war  with, — these  brave  souls  are 
facing,  not  death  only,  but  Spanish  death. 

One  Great  Graveyard. 

"The  region  under  revolution  is  one  great  graveyard  of  those 
fallen  in  the  ten  years'  revolt,  yet  Cubans  are  undaunted  by  the  num 
bers  or  resources  of  their  foe.  Beside  this  far-reaching  patience  of 
valor  a  single  act  of  heroism  like  Thermopylae  is  pastime ;  compared 
with  the  raggedness,  hunger,  and  privation  which  Cubans  bravely 
choose  to  accept,  Valley  Forge  was  a  garden  party.  For  ten  years 
these  same  men  with  the  same  slender  resources  held  the  arms  and 
pride  of  Spain  at  bay,  and  then  capitulated  to  promises  which  were 
made  only  to  be  broken. 

"  Of  Spain  the  insurgents  have  no  fear ;  but  if  the  United  States 
rigorously  prevents  the  shipment  of  arms  and  munitions  from  our 
shore,  we  can  discourage,  we  can  delay  the  triumph  of  patriotism,  but 
in  the  end  we  cannot  prevent  it.  In  this  war,  or  the  next,  or  the 
next,  Cuba  will  be  free.  Although  these  men  are  our  near  neigh 
bors,  although  we  are  to  them  the  chosen  people  who  have  won  inde 
pendence  and  grown  great  in  freedom,  yet  they  have  never  made  the 
slightest  appeal  to  us  for  active  aid  in  their  struggle. 

"  They  expect  no  good-Samaritan  offices.  They  look  for  no  gal 
lant  American  Lafayette  to  draw  sword  for  them  and  share  the  pen 
ury  and  hardships  of  their  camps.  They  ask  nothing.  But  I  happen 
to  know  that  they  are  at  a  loss  to  comprehend  how  a  great  people  to 
whom  Heaven  has  granted  the  victorious  liberty  for  which  they  are 
fighting  and  dying,  should  let  months  pass  in  cold  half-silence,  with 
out  one  ringing  '  God-speed  !'  to  cheer  them  on  into  battle. 

*  "ft  is  doubtless  explicable  enough  that  a  people  whose  own  busj- 


THE   BITTER   TEN- YEARS'   WAR.  365 

ness  is  so  essentially  materialistic  as  ours,  and  who  mind  it  so  ab- 
sorbedly,  should  remain  carelessly  ignorant  of  the  real  Cuban  ques 
tion  and  the  moral  attitude  of  the  Island  people ;  but  is  it  fair,  is  it 
generous,  is  it  worthy  of  the  real  blood  of  freedom  that  still  flows 
from  the  big  American  heart?  Already  a  change  is  coming,  and 
isolated  expressions  of  genuine  sympathy  are  becoming  frequent. 
The  time  will  come,  and  that  not  long  hence,  when  the  voice  of 
America  will  ring  out  clear  and  true. 

"  The  Cuban  war  hangs  before  us  an  issue  which  we  cannot 
evade.  Either  we  must  stand  as  the  friend  of  Spain,  and,  by  our 
thorough  prevention  of  the  shipment  of  war  supplies  to  the  insur 
gents,  aid  and  countenance  the  Spanish  efforts  to  conquer  Cuba  into 
continued  sorrow,  or  we  must  befriend  Cuba  in  her  heroic  battle  to 
throw  off  a  mediaeval  yoke.  Let  us  not  deceive  ourselves !  Spain 
alone  cannot  conquer  Cuba ;  she  proved  that  in  ten  years  of  misera 
ble  failure.  If  we  prevent  the  sending  of  munitions  to  Cuba,  and 
continue  to  allow  Spain  to  buy  ships  and  arms  and  ammunition  here, 
it  is  we  who  will  conquer  Cuba,  not  Spain.  It  is  we  who  will  crush 
liberty! 

"  To  secure  victory  for  Cuba  it  is  necessary  for  us,  in  my  opinion, 
to  take  but  a  single  step  ;  that  is,  to  recognize  her  belligerency ;  she 
will  do  all  the  rest.  That  step  the  government  will  doubtless  hesitate 
to  take  at  the  present  state  of  the  struggle,  because  as  yet  the  insur 
gents  have  neither  instituted  a  government  nor  established  a  capital. 
In  the  last  insurrection  they  did  both,  besides  maintaining  a  state  of 
war  for  ten  years. 

'*'  That  a  state  of  war  exists  is  virtually  admitted  by  the  proclama 
tion  of  Governor-General  Campos,  who  in  addition  to  the  army  under 
his  command,  consisting  of  about  60,000  regulars  and  40,000  militia, 
calls  for  heavy  reinforcements,  and  the  Spanish  war  office  has  been 
obliged  to  order  out  the  first  class  of  reserves.  Moreover,  a  com- 
mander-in-chief  routed  in  battle  and  fleeing,  his  '  rear-guard  fighting 
bravely  all  the  way  into  Bayamo/  to  use  his  own  words,  connotes 
nothing  less  than  war. 

"  When  the  Cuban  government  is  set  up,  as  it  soon  will  be,  we 


366  THE   BITTER  TEN- YEARS'   WAR. 

shall  have  equally  as  good  international  authority  and  precedent  to 
recognize  a  state  of  war  in  the  Island  as  Spain  did  for  our  own  Con 
federate  insurgents  forty  days  after  the  shot  on  Fort  Sumter.  We 
can  return  to  her,  in  the  interests  of  liberty,  the  compliment  she  then 
paid  us  in  behalf  of  slavery.  The  justice  will  be  poetic.  With  all 
possible  decorum,  with  a  politeness  above  criticism,  with  a  firmness 
wholly  irresistible,  we  should  assist  Spain  out  of  Cuba  and  out  of  the 
hemisphere  as  effectually  as  Lincoln  and  Seward  did  the  French 
invaders  of  Mexico  in  the  sixties. 

"  Moreover,  according  to  American  precedent,  neither  a  state  of 
hostilities  nor  the  setting  up  of  a  civil  or  military  organization  is 
positively  necessary  to  entitle  a  people  to  belligerent  rights ;  for 
before  either  of  these  conditions  was  established  in  1838,  we  went  so 
far  as  to  issue  a  proclamation  for  '  prevention  of  unlawful  interference 
in  the  civil  war  in  Canada.' 

"  Our  record  toward  Spain  is  clear.  We  heartily  approved  when 
George  Canning  invoked  the  Holy  Alliance  to  prevent  her  from  re 
covering  her  American  provinces,  and  in  1825  we  refused  to  guaran 
tee  her  perpetual  possession  of  Cuba  in  exchange  for  commercial 
concessions  to  ourselves. 

"  Our  obligations  to  her  are  measured  by  an  easily  terminable 
treaty,  which,  however,  while  in  force,  in  no  way  prevents  us  from 
recognizing  Cuba's  belligerency.  Is  it  difficult  for  us  to  decide 
between  free  Cuba  and  tyrant  Spain  ?  Why  not  fling  overboard 
Spain  and  give  Cuba  the  aid  which  she  needs,  and  which  our  treaty 
with.  Spain  cannot  prevent  ?  Which  cause  is  morally  right  ? — which 
is  manly? — which  is  American?" 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 
Butchery  of  the  Crew  of  the  "  Virginius." 

ONE  of  the  most  cold-blooded  massacres  on  record  was  that  of 
the  crew  of  the  "  Virginius,"  a  ship  that  was  rendering  aid  to 
the  insurgents  and  was  captured  by  the  Spanish.  Nothing  in 
all  the  annals  of  crime,  not  even  excepting  the  bloody  and  savage  mas 
sacres  of  Armenia,  was  more  brutal  or  inhuman  than  this  wholesale 
slaughter  of  the  gallant  captain,  officers  and  crew  of  that  ill-fated 
vessel.  Even  though  forfeiting  their  lives,  the  manner  in  which  they 
were  executed  shocked  the  civilized  world.  After  the  first  firing 
some  were  left  still  alive,  yet  writhing  in  the  throes  of  death.  These 
in  some  instances  had  the  muzzles  of  guns  rammed  into  their  mouths 
and  their  heads  were  blown  off. 

With  such  an  inhuman  record,  and  many  others  to  match  it  in  the 
long  ages  of  Spanish  barbarities  in  Cuba,  it  is  not  strange  that  both 
the  sympathy  and  the  indignation  of  the  American  people  have,  from 
time  to  time,  been  aroused  to  the  highest  pitch,  and  it  is  only  by 
national  forbearance,  unjustified  as  many  believe,  that  Cuba  has  not 
been  snatched  from  the  grasp  of  her  tormentor.  The  following  is  the 
full  and  tragic  story  of  the  butchery  of  the  crew  of  the  "  Virginius." 

In  1873  American  sympathy  for  the  Cuban  struggle  for  freedom 
ran  high,  and  we  were  apparently  near  war  with  Spain.  To  go  further 
back,  twenty  years  before  there  had  been  a  proposition  for  the  United 
States  to  buy  Cuba,  and  it  had  been  haughtily  if  not  contemptuously 
rejected  by  Spain.  That  proposition  was  the  outgrowth  of  the  desire 
of  the  Southern  political  leaders  to  increase  the  slave  territory  and 
strengthen  the  pro-slavery  representation  in  Congress  by  the  manu^ 
facture  of  the  new  States  carved  out  of  the  Island  of  Cuba. 

In  1873  the  situation  had  changed  for  the  better  in  the  United 
States  as  well  as  in  Cuba.  The  United  States  had  repudiated  slavery 

867 


368  THE  "VIRGINIUS"   BUTCHERY. 

America's  sympathy  with  Cuba's  aspirations  for  independence,  and 
their  desire  for  the  acquisition  of  Cuba,  so  far  as  such  desire  existed, 
was  sincere,  and  inspired  by  lofty  if  not  wholly  disinterested  impulses. 
This  sympathy  animated  the  American  people  without  regard  to 
partisan  affiliations  and  without  accruing  benefit  to  either  of  the  great 
political  parties  at  -the  expense  of  the  other.  Singularly  enough — 
and  the  fact  is  now  generally  forgotten — Spain  was  at  that  time  a  re 
public  under  Emilio  Castelar. 

Unfounded  Hopes. 

Americans  believed  that  the  leopard  was  going  to  change  its  spots. 
They  were  urged  to  wait ;  that  once  peace  was  restored  Cuba  would 
share  the  enlightenment  that  had  begun  to  shed  its  beams  over  Spain 
and  her  possessions.  All  Castelar's  eloquence  and  sophistry  were 
employed  in  the  effort  to  impress  this  view  upon  those  in  authority 
in  Washington,  and  not  without  effect. 

But  Cubans  resident  in  this  country,  especially  in  New  York  and 
other  coast  cities,  nearly  all  of  them  naturalized,  and  all  of  them 
rich,  thought  they  knew  Spain  as  well  as  Castelar,  and  took  no  stock 
in  her  conversion  to  republican  principles,  much  less  in  her  willing 
ness  either  under  a  republican  or  monarchical  form  of  government,  to 
do  anything  for  Cuba  in  the  way  of  loosening  the  ties  binding 
her  like  whip-cords,  not  like  ties  of  affection,  to  the  mother  country. 

They  encouraged  their  brethren  in  chains  to  revolt.  They  sent 
money  and  men  and  arms  for  the  reinforcement  of  the  revolutionists. 
Filibustering  expeditions  were  common.  One  of  the  best  ships  en 
gaged  in  these  expeditions  was  the  "  Virginius,"  flying  the  Ameri 
can  flag,  commanded  by  Captain  Frey,  of  New  Orleans,  an  American 
citizen  and  a  veteran  of  our  civil  war,  and  manned  in  part  by  Ameri 
can  and  British  sailors.  The  "  Virginius "  slipped  in  and  out  of 
Cuban  harbors  with  wonderful  success  ;  but  the  pitcher  went  to  the 
well  once  too  often. 

In  October,  1873,  the  "Virginius  "  was  captured  in  neutral  waters, 
near  the  British  Island  of  Jamaica,  towed  into  Santiago  de  Cuba, 
declared  a  pirate  and  fifty-two  of  the  officers  and  crew  were  executed 


THE  "VIRGINIUS"   BUTCHERY.  369 

against  the  protest  of  the  United  States  Consul.  The  whole  thing 
was  irregular.  A  fraudulent  use  was  made  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
and  the  flag  could  afford  the  ship  no  protection.  International  law 
had  been  set  at  naught  by  capturing  the  ship  in  neutral  waters,  and 
in  executing  the  captured,  some  of  whom  were  naturalized  citizens  oi 
the  United  States. 

The  incident  served  to  inform  the  world  of  the  wholesale,  lawless 
butchery  going  on  in  Cuba,  and  distinguished  by  Spain  as  legitimate 
war.  The  four  principal  officers,  Gen.  Washington  Ryan,  Varona, 
Jesus  del  Sol  and  Pedro  Cespedes,  were  marched  to  the  slaughter 
house  of  Santiago  de  Cuba  and  murdered.  They  were  in  irons 
when  they  were  marched  against  the  low,  square  structure  of  adobe. 
Fifteen  feet  above  them  the  red  tile  roof  projected.  At  their  feet 
there  was  a  ditch  to  catch  rain-drops. 

Shocking  Barbarities. 

They  were  made  to  kneel,  facing  the  wall.  The  wall  above  them 
was  pitted  deep  with  the  bullets  that  flew  over  their  heads.  As  they 
fell  into  the  ditch  the  cavalry  rode  over  their  warm  bodies,  and 
military  wagons  crunched  and  slipped  on  the  bodies.  Negroes  cut 
off  their  heads  and  carried  them  on  pikes  through  the  city,  and  the 
mutilated  bodies  were  dumped  into  a  pit  of  quicklime. 

The  North  American  continent  thrilled  with  indignation  in  view  of 
this  outrage.  The  press  voiced  the  demand  of  the  people  for 
apology,  indemnity,  revenge  and  the  recognition  of  the  Cubans,  un 
organized  as  they  were,  as  belligerents.  The  government  seemed  to 
share  the  popular  feeling  to  a  considerable  degree.  War  between 
Spain  and  the  Jnited  States  seemed  to  be  imminent  and  unavoidable. 

Our  poor  little  navy,  consisting  of  wooden  vessels  of  antiquated 
models  and  of  ironclads  dusty  from  disuse,  was  patched  up  as  quickly 
as  possible  and  ordered  to  rendezvous  at  Key  West,  whence  it  might 
descend  upon  Cuba  in  a  night.  Admiral  Scott  commanded  the 
North  Atlantic  Squadron,  such  as  it  was.  The  flagship  was  the  old 
"  Worcester,"  Capt.  W.  D.  Whiting.  The  "  Wyoming  "  was  there 
under  Commander  Cushing,  and  the  "  Juniata,"  under  Lieut.-Com- 
24 


370  THE  "VIRGINIUS"   BUTCHERS 

mander  Merriman.  Capt.  Jouett  commanded  the  side-wheeler 
"  Powhatan,"  with  the  "  Ossipee,"  the  "  Pawnee  "  and  some  others, 
eleven  or  twelve  in  all.  The  dispatch  boats  were  the  "  Pinta,"  Capt. 
Gorringe  (afterward  of  "  Obelisk  "  celebrity) ;  the  "  Dispatch,"  Capt 
Frederick  Rodgers,  and  the  "  Fortune,"  Lieut.-Commander  F.  Mt 
Green.  Then  there  were  the  ironclads  which  came  very  near  swamp 
ing  on  their  tedious  cruise  down  the  coast. 

Only  for  a  Bluff. 

These  war  vessels,  insignificant  as  they  appear  in  retrospect  and 
unformidable  as  they  must  have  looked  then  in  the  eyes  of  naval 
experts,  made  a  very  pretty  and  warlike  show  as  they  lay  at  anchor 
in  the  harbor  of  Key  West,  and  if  they  had  put  in  an  appearance 
promptly  at  Havana  would  have  commanded  some  respect  from  the 
expected  enemy.  But  a  half  bluff  is  worse  than  no  bluff  at  all. 

It  was  soon  apparent  that  the  government  at  Washington  did  not 
mean  business  any  farther  than  requiring  the  surrender  of  the 
"  Virginius,"  and  of  the  surviving  members  of  her  crew,  and  an  in 
demnity,  trivial  in  amount,  for  the  blood  of  those  American  citizens 
whose  nationality  could  be  proved  beyond  peradventure.  The  State 
Department  did  not  share  the  belligerent  disposition  of  the  Navy 
Department.  Secretary  Fish  was  able,  patriotic  and  incorruptible, 
but  somehow  or  other  the  legal  representatives  of  the  Spanish 
Government  managed  to  block  the  way,  and  Spanish  diplomacy,  then 
as  now,  was  plausible  and  resourceful. 

Whatever  the  cause,  the  naval  display  at  Key  West  was  feeble  and 
ineffective.  Our  flagship,  at  least,  like  the  British  fl.i^ship,  should 
have  gone  to  Havana.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  Admiral  Scott  had  to 
make  an  excuse  and  get  express  authority  to  send  over  a  dispatch 
boat,  and  was  dependent  upon  the  newspaper  correspondents,  or  one 
of  them,  for  news  of  what  was  going  on  in  his  immediate  front. 

From  the  versatile  pen  of  Major  Moses  P.  Handy  we  quote  a 
graphic  description  of  the  bloody  tragedy  : 

"  There  was  as  much  newspaper  enterprise  then  as  now,  although 
you  may  not  think  so.  Every  New  York  journal  sent  corre- 


THE  "VIRGINIUS"   BUTCHERY.  371 

spondents  to  the  front.  The  New  York  '  Herald  '  was  represented 
at  first  at  Key  West  by  W.  B.  Stephens  and  Karl  Case,  who  were 
reinforced  by  James  A.  Cowardin  and  '  Modoc '  Fox,  and  finally  by 
J.  A.  McGahan,  one  of  the  most  famous  of  war  correspondents,  who 
came  from  the  European  station  on  one  of  our  men-of-war,  and 
Julius  Chambers.  The  '  Tribune  '  bureau  was  in  my  charge,  and 
we  also  had  Ralph  Keeler  at  Santiago  de  Cuba  and  W.  P.  Sullivan, 
now  a  New  York  broker,  at  Havana.  McGahan,  Stephens,  Cowardin, 
Case  and  Fox  are  now  dead. 

Rivalry  to  get  the  News. 

"  The  race  between  the  correspondents  for  news  was  very  hot. 
Every  man  as  the  representative  of  his  newspaper  was  on  his  mettle, 
and  enterprise  was  at  a  premium.  McGahan  had  the  advantage  of 
being  ward-room  guest  on  a  man-of-war.  Fox  was  paymaster's  yeo 
man  on  the  '  Pinta,'  the  fastest  boat  in  the  navy.  When  we  learned 
that  the  '  Virginius '  was  to  be  surrendered  we  all  realized  that  that 
event  would  end  the  campaign.  The  point  then  was  to  be  in  at  the 
death,  and  to  obtain  the  best  if  not  the  exclusive  story  of  the  cere 
mony  and  attendant  circumstances.  The  lips  of  the  government 
officials  were  sealed  as  to  the  time  and  place  'appointed. 

"  In  fact  the  programme  was  arranged  at  Washington  by  the  Sec 
retary  of  State  and  the  Spanish  Minister  and  communicated  con 
fidentially  to  Admiral  Scott.  However,  I  managed  to  get  at  the 
secret,  and,  thus  armed,  '  stowed  away  '  on  the  '  Dispatch,'  which 
was  the  vessel  appointed  to  receive  the  surrender.  Captain  Rodgers 
commanded  the  '  Dispatch/  but  the  receiving  officer  was  Captain 
Whiting.  The  fleet  captain  and  the  other  officers  of  the  detail  were 
Lieutenant  Adolph  Marix,  Master  George  A.  Calhoun  and  Assistant 
Engineer  N.  H.  Lambdin.  With  them  were  thirty-nine  sailor  men 
from  the  '  Pawnee/  who  were  to  man  the  surrendered  vessel  as  a 
prize  crew.  All  of  these  people  except  Captain  Whiting  were 
ignorant  of  their  instructions,  not  even  knowing  their  destination,  and 
the  pilot  taken  aboard  before  leaving  Key  West  had  sealed  orders. 

"  We  left  Key  West  on  a  Sunday  night  at  10  o'clock,     We  were  in 


372  THE   "VIRGINIUS"    BUTCHERY. 

the  open  sea  before  I  ventured  to  make  my  appearance  on  deck,  pre 
sent  myself  to  the  officers,  declare  myself  a  stowaway,  and  verify  my 
information  as  to  their  mission.  The  next  morning  at  10  o'clock  the 
blue  hills  of  the  Cuban  coast  rose  above  the  horizon  and  the  bow  of 
the  '  Dispatch  '  was  directed  toward  Bahia  Honda,  the  obscure  little 
port  selected  for  the  function. 

"  It  was  about  noon  when  we  passed  an  old  fort  called  Murillo, 
commanding  the  entrance  to  the  harbor.  Speed  was  then  slackened, 
and  the  vessel  crept  cautiously  along  the  narrow,  but  clearly  marked 
channel,  which  leads  to  the  smooth  water  where  the  '  Virginius '  was 
supposed  to  be  lying. 

Raising  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 

"  As  soon  as  the  '  Dispatch '  was  sighted  from  the  shore,  the  Span 
ish  flag,  bearing  the  crown,  notwithstanding  the  republic  abolishing 
that  monarchical  emblem,  was  flung  to  the  breeze.  We  discovered  a 
black  side-wheel  steamship  lying  about  a  mile  beyond  the  fort.  It 
was  the  '  Virginius.'  No  other  craft,  except  two  or  three  coasting 
steamers,  or  fishing  smacks,  was  then  visible,  and  it  was  not  until 
we  were  about  to  come  to  anchor  that  we  discerned  a  Spanish  sloop- 
of-war  lying  close  under  the  shore,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  away. 

"  Very  soon  a  boat  from  the  Spanish  man-of-war  came  alongside 
of  the  'Virginius,'  and  immediately  the  Stars  and  Stripes  were  raised 
by  Spanish  hands,  and  again  floated  over  the  vessel  which  carried 
Ryan  and  his  unfortunate  comrades  to  their  death.  At  the  same 
moment  we  saw,  by  the  aid  of  field-glasses,  another  boat  let  down 
from  the  Spanish  vessel.  It  proved  to  be  the  captain's  gig,  and 
brought  to  the  '  Dispatch '  a  naval  officer  in  full  uniform,  who  proved 
to  be  Senor  de  la  Camera,  of  the  Spanish  sloop-of  war  '  Favorita.' 
He  stepped  briskly  forward,  and  was  met  at  the  gangway  by  Captain 
Rodgers  and  Captain  Whiting. 

"  After  an  exchange  of  courteous  salutations,  Commander  de  la 
Camera  remarked  that  he  had  received  a  copy  of  the  protocol  pro 
viding  for  the  surrender  of  the  '  Virginius/  and  that  the  surrender 
might  now  be  considered  to  have  taken  place.  Captain  Whiting 


THE  "  VIRGINIUS  »    BUTCHERY.  373 

replied  that  under  his  instructions  the  following  day  was  named  for 
the  surrender,  and  that  he  could  not  receive  it  until  that  time.  Mean 
while  he  would  thank  the  Spanish  officer  to  continue  in  possession. 
Nine  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning  was  then  agreed  upon  as  the  hour, 
and  after  informing  the  American  officer  that  there  was  coal  enough 
on  board  of  the  '  Virginius  '  to  last  six  days,  salutes  were  exchanged 
and  the  Spanish  officer  retired. 

"  The  next  morning,  half  an  hour  ahead  of  time,  the  gig  of  the 
'  Favorita'  came  over  to  the  '  Virginius/  It  contained  oarsmen  and 
a  single  officer.  As  the  latter  stepped  on  deck  a  petty  officer  and 
half  a  dozen  men,  who  had  stood  watch  on  the  *  Virginius '  during 
the  night,  went  over  the  side  and  remained  in  a  dingy  awaiting  orders. 
At  9  precisely  by  the  bells  the  American  flag  again  flew  to  the  flag 
staff  of  the  '  Virginius,'  and  at  the  same  moment  a  boat  containing 
Capt.  Whiting  and  Lieut.  Marix  put  away  from  the  '  Dispatch.'  As 
they  ascended  the  accommodation  ladder  of  the  '  Virginius '  the 
single  man  on  deck,  who  proved  to  be  Senor  de  la  Camera,  advanced 
and  made  a  courteous  salute. 

Account  of  the  Surrender. 

"  The  officers  then  read  their  respective  instructions,  and  Capt.  de 
la  Camera  remarked  that  in  obedience  to  the  requirements  of  the 
government  and  in  execution  of  the  provisions  of  the  protocol,  he 
had  the  honor  to  turn  over  the  steamer  '  Virginius  '  to  the  American 
authorities.  Capt.  Whiting  accepted,  and,  learning  that  a  receipt  was 
required,  gave  one  in  due  form.  A  word  or  two  more  was  spoken, 
and  the  Spaniard  stepped  over  the  side,  signalled  to  his  oarsmen,  and 
in  ten  minutes  was  again  upon  the  deck  of  his  own  vessel.  Beside 
the  surrendering  and  receipting  officers,  I  was  the  only  witness  of  the 
ceremony. 

"  While  the  Spanish  officer  was  courtesy  itself,  we  were  all  im 
pressed  with  the  fact  that  the  ceremony  was  lacking  in  dignity,  and 
that  the  Spaniards  had  purposely  made  that  lack  as  conspicuous 
as  they  dared.  It  appeared  that  the  '  Virginius '  was  towed 
to  Havana  by  the  first-class  man-of-war  'Isabel  la  Catolica/  the 


374  THE  "VIRGINIUS"   BUTCHERY. 

commander  of  which  retired  immediately  and  left  the  surrender  to  be 
made  by  the  commander  of  the  '  Favorita/  which  had  been  in  the 
vicinity  of  Bahia  Honda  for  several  months  engaged  in  surveying 
duty.  The  surrender  should  have  taken  place  either  at  Santiago  de 
Cuba  or  at  Havana,  and  a  Spanish  officer  of  like  rank  with  Capt. 
Whiting  should  have  discharged  the  duty. 

Bad  Condition  of  the  Vessel. 

"  A  quick  survey  by  our  officers  showed  the  '  Virginius  '  to  be  in 
a  most  filthy  condition.  She  was  stripped  of  almost  everything 
moveable  save  a  few  vermin,  which  haunted  the  mattresses  and  cush 
ions  in  cabin  and  staterooms,  and  half  a  dozen  casks  of  water.  The 
decks  were  caked  with  dirt,  and  nuisances  recently  committed,  com 
bined  with  mold  and  decomposition,  caused  a  foul  stench  in  the  fore 
castle  and  below  the  hatches.  In  the  cabin,  however,  the  odor  of 
carbolic  acid  gave  evidence  that  an  attempt  had  been  made  to  make 
that  part  of  the  vessel  habitable  for  the  temporary  custodians  of  the 
ship. 

"  Our  officers  were  reluctant  to  put  the  men  into  the  dirty  fore 
castle  and  stowed  them  away  into  hardly  more  agreeable  quarters 
afforded  by  the  staterooms  of  Ryan  and  his  butchered  companions. 
Some  attempt  seemed  to  have  been  made,  as  shown  by  the  engineer 
ing  survey,  to  repair  the  machinery,  but  a  few  hours'  work  put  the 
engines  in  workable  order.  The  ship  was  leaking  considerably  and 
the  pumps  had  to  be  kept  going  constantly  to  keep  the  water  down. 
After  a  few  hours  oi'hard  work  we  got  under  way,  but  had  only  gone 
200  yards  when  the  engines  suddenly  refused  to  do  duty,  and  it 
became  necessary  for  the  '  Dispatch '  to  take  us  in  tow. 

"  As  we  passed  the  fort  at  the  entrance  to  the  harbor  the  Spanish 
flag  was  rather  defiantly  displayed  by  that  antiquated  apology  for  a 
fortification,  and  there  was  no  salute  for  the  American  flag,  either 
from  the  fort  or  the  surrendering  sloop-of-war. 

"  We  had  a  hard  time  that  night — those  of  us  who  were  aboard 
the  'Virginius.'  It  seemed  hardly  possible  that  we  could  keep 
afloat  until  morning.  During  the  night  the  navy  tug  *  Fortune/ 


THE   "  VIRGINIUS  "    BUTCHERY.  375 

from  Key  West,  met  us  and  remained  with  the  convoy.  At  noon  the 
next  day,  when  we  were  about  thirty  miles  south-southeast  of  Dry 
Tortugas,  the  vessels  separated,  the  '  Virginius '  and  '  Dispatch ' 
going  to  Tortugas  and  the  '  Fortune '  returning,  with  me  as  a  soli 
tary  passenger,  to  Key  West  whence  I  had  the  honor  of  reporting 
the  news  to  the  Admiral. 

Cheers  from  Excited  Spaniards. 

"  It  was  the  general  opinion  among  the  naval  officers  that  the 
Sania  had  endeavored  to  belittle  the  whole  proceeding  by  smug 
gling  the  '  Virginius  '  out  of  Havana,  by  selecting  an  obscure  harbor 
not  a  port  of  entry  as  the  place  of  surrender  and  by  turning  the  duty 
of  surrender  over  to  a  surveying  sloop,  while  the  '  Tornado,'  which 
made  the  capture,  lay  in  the  harbor  of  Havana  and  the  '  Isabel  la 
Catolica,'  which  had  been  selected  as  convoy,  steamed  back  to 
Havana  under  cover  of  the  night.  The  American  officers  and 
American  residents  in  Cuba  and  Key  West  agreed  that  our  govern 
ment  ought  to  have  required  that  the  '  Virginius '  should  be  sur 
rendered  with  all  the  released  prisoners  on  board  either  at  Santiago 
de  Cuba,  where  the  '  Tornado '  brought  in  her  ill-gotten  prey  and 
where  the  inhuman  butcheries  were  committed,  or  in  Havana  where 
she  was  afterward  taken  in  triumph  and  greeted  with  the  cheers  of 
the  excited  Spaniards  over  the  humiliation  of  the  Americans. 

"An  attempt  was  made  to  take  the  'Virginius'  to  some  northern 
port,  but  the  old  hulk  was  not  equal  to  the  journey.  On  the  way 
no  pumping  or  caulking  could  stop  her  leaks,  and  she  foundered  in 
mid-ocean.  The  government  had  been  puzzled  to  know  what  dis 
position  to  make  of  her,  and  there  was  great  relief  in  official  circles 
to  know  that  she  was  out  of  the  way. 

"  The  surrender  of  the  surviving  prisoners  of  the  massacre  took 
place  in  the  course  of  time  at  Santiago,  owing  more  to  British  insist 
ence  than  to  our  feeble  representations.  As  to  the  fifty-three  who 
were  killed,  Spain  never  gave  us  any  real  satisfaction.  For  a  long 
time  the  Madrid  government  unblushingly  denied  that  there  had 
been  any  killing,  and  when  forced  to  acknowledge  the  fact,  they  put 


376  THE   "VIRGINIUS"   BUTCHERY. 

us  off  with  preposterous  excuses.  '  Butcher  Borrel/  by  whose 
orders  the  outrage  was  perpetrated,  was  considered  at  Madrid  to 
have  been  justified  by  circumstances.  It  was  pretended  that  orders 
to  suspend  the  execution  of  Ryan  and  his  associates  were  '  unfortu 
nately  '  received  too  late,  owing  to  interruption  of  telegraph  lines  by 
the  insurgents  to  whose  broad  and  bleeding  shoulders  an  attempt 
was  thus  made  to  shift  the  responsibility. 

'Butcher'  Borrel  Promoted. 

"  There  was  a  nominal  repudiation  of  Borrel's  act  and  a  promise 
was  made  to  inflict  punishment  upon  '  those  who  have  offended ; ' 
but  no  punishment  was  inflicted  upon  anybody.  The  Spanish  Govern 
ment,  with  characteristic  double  dealing,  resorted  to  procrastination, 
prevarication  and  trickery,  and  thus  gained  time  until  new  issues 
effaced  in  the  American  mind  the  memory  of  old  wrongs  unavenged. 
Instead  of  being  degraded  Borrel  was  promoted.  Never  to  this  day 
has  there  been  any  adequate  atonement  by  Spain,  much  less  an 
apology  or  expression  of  regret  for  the  '  Virginius '  massacre. 

"  Newspaper  correspondents  having  figured  in  this  sketch,  I  cannot 
close  it  without  referring  to  the  fate  of  one  of  my  colleagues  whose 
death  undoubtedly  lies  at  the  door  of  the  Spaniards.  Ralph  Keeler 
was  his  name.  He  was  more  magazinist  than  newspaper  man,  and 
had  achieved  reputation  by  his  stories  of  actual  experiences  in  vaga 
bondage,  written,  I  think,  for  the  '  Atlantic  Monthly.'  We  all  ex 
pected  great  things  of  him  as  a  war  correspondent. 

"After  the  surrender  of  the  '  Virginius/  he  was  expected  to  cover 
the  surrender  of  the  prisoners,  but  having  some  misgivings  as  to 
whether  he  would  understand  what  was  required  to  get  ahead  in  the 
dispatch  of  the  news  to  New  York,  I  laid  plans  to  cover  any  default 
by  securing  a  report  from  another  source.  My  misgivings  had  more 
substantial  foundation  than  I  knew,  for  poor  Keeler  was  probably 
dead  at  the  moment  when  his  instructions  were  filed  in  the  telegraph 
office. 

"  He  disappeared  as  effectually  as  if  the  earth  had  opened  and 
swallowed  him.  How,  why  or  when  he  died  his  friends  never  knew. 


THE  'VIRGINIUS"   BUTCHERY.  377 

It  is  believed,  however,  that  he  was  another  victim  of  the  hatred 
which  in  those  days  inflamed  the  Spanish  breast  against  every  citizen 
of  the  United  States.  Circumstantial  evidence  indicated  that  he  was 
assassinated  by  Spanish  volunteers,  and  I  have  always  thought  of  my 
genial  and  gifted  colleague  as  one  of  the  murdered  Americans  now 
vaguely  remembered  as  the  victims  of  the  Spanish  bloodthirstiness 
in  the  matter  of  the  unavenged  '  Virginius  '  incident." 


PART  III. 

Picturesque  Cuba:        '     "- 
Manners  and  Customs  of  the  People. 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 
First  Impressions  of  the  Island. 

CUBA !    Beautiful  "  Queen  of  the  Antilles,"  the  land  of  .he  cocoa 
and  the  palm — of  the  golden  banana  and  the  luscious  orange 
— well  may  the  hearts  of  thy  sons  and  the  dark,  lustrous  eyes 
of  thy  maidens  glow  and   glisten  with  pride  at  the  praises  of  thy 
sunny  Isle !     How  few  Americans  there  are  who  have  formed  any 
correct  conception  of  "  Life  in  the  Tropics !  "     To  the  generality  of 
us,  Cuba  suggests  the  idea  of  heat  and  yellow  fever,  of  venomous 
reptiles  and   insects,  slaves  and  sugar,  oranges  and    ever-blooming 
flowers — an  idea  in  a  great  degree  erroneous. 

Few,  indeed,  can  realize  that,  leaving  the  snow-clad  hills  of  New 
York  harbor  in  the  depth  of  winter,  in  three  and  a  half  or  four  days 
they  will  be  sailing  over  the  placid  waters  of  the  bay  of  Havana, 
under  a  tropic  sun,  which  even  in  mid-winter  rivals  that  of  our  own 
land  in  its  season  of  dog-day  heat,  and  will  see  around  them  the 
verdure-clad  hills,  with  the  graceful  palm  and  cocoa-tree  clear  against 
the  pure  blue  sky  of  the  beautiful  Isle,  so  truly  called  "  the  giost 
precious  jewel  of  the  Spanish  crown." 

Yet  there  are  many  Americans  who,  each  year,  either  for  purposes 

of  health,  business,  or  pleasure,  flock  to  Havana,  all  glad  to  avoid  the 

inclement  weather  of  the  icy  north ;  and  even  with  all  their  traveling 

it  is  difficult  to  get  any  reliable  information  as  to  what  preparations 

378 


FIRST   IMPRESSIONS   OF  THE   ISLAND.  379 

one  needs  to   make  before  starting;   unless,  indeed,  some   of   one's 
acquaintances  have  been  there,  and  even  then  it  is  very  limited. 

To  him,  therefore,  who  has  any  intention  of  making  a  visit  to  the 
Island  of  Cuba  with  the  purpose  of  staying  there  some  time,  of  travel 
ing  over  the  Island,  and  of  really  enjoying  its  beautiful  scenery,  its 
oddities  of  manners  and  customs,  or  even  of  trying  its  numerous 
medicinal  waters,  we  recommend  to  pick  up  a  little  Spanish,  even  if 
it  be  only  enough  to  ask  for  something  to  eat,  to  give  directions 
about  luggage  and  such  other  every-day  necessities  as  occur  to 
the  traveler  in  any  land. 

Not  Great  Travelers. 

The  Cubans  themselves  are  not  a  traveling  people,  and,  to  use  the 
words  of  one  of  their  own  authors,  "  have  little  fancy  for  traveling, 
be  it  on  account  of  the  bad  roads,  that  now  are  disappearing  with  the 
advent  of  steamboats  and  railroads,  or  be  it  from  the  love  with  which 
the  localities  where  we  are  born  and  pass  the  first  years  of  our 
infancy  inspire  us, — where  exist  our  interests,  and  where  gather 
round  our  sweetest  memories. 

Few  foreigners  go  much  away  from  Havana  or  Matanzas,  or  per 
haps  Cardenas,  and  the  people  have  not  yet  learned  the  necessities  of 
those  who  travel  for  curiosity  or  health ;  and  therefore  to  us,  accus 
tomed  as  we  are  to  have  our  traveling  made  easy,  many  things  will 
seem  hard,  uncomfortable,  and  strange,  unless  one  is  able  by  a  few 
words  of  Spanish  to  smooth  away  the  rough  peculiarities  of  places 
and  people  not  accustomed  to  a  traveling  public. 

And  yet,  with  all  the  inconveniences  and  peculiarities  that  the 
traveler  experiences  after  leaving  Havana,  he  is  compensated  for  all 
of  these  by  the  perfect  novelty  of  the  sights  and  scenery  he  meets 
with,  and  by  the  extreme  change  in  the  manner  of  life,  he  is  accus 
tomed  to,  although  he  may  leave  behind  him  some  greater  con 
veniences  in  quitting  the  prominent  places  like  Havana  and  Matan 
zas,  where,  after  the  novelty  of  the  streets,  the  architecture  of  the 
houses,  and  the  odd  appearance  of  the  stores,  etc.,  are  worn  off,  he  is 
reminded  of  the  city  life  of  his  own  land  constantly.  The  social  life 


380  FIRST   IMPRESSIONS    OF   THE   ISLAND. 

of  the  better  classes  is  much  the  same,  the  world  over ;  they  eat,  and 
drink,  and  visit  pretty  much  as  they  do  in  all  the  great  capitals  of  the 
world. 

But  it  is  in  such  towns  as  Trinidad  and  Santiago  de  Cuba,  and  in 
such  pretty  villages  as  Giiines,  San  Antonio,  and  Guanajay,  or  among 
the  coffee  places  of  the  Vuelta  Abajo,  and  the  sugar  estates  of  the 
Vuelta  Arriba,  that  the  stranger  sees  the  original  habits  aud  customs 
of  a  people  who  are  always  loth  to  change ;  and  it  has  been  truly 
said  that  Cuba  is  more  Spanish  than  Spain  ;  for  here  it  is  out  of  the 
world,  in  some  degree,  while  there  effort  is  made  to  keep  up  with 
the  new  ideas  of  the  day. 

Cuban  Hospitality. 

A  more  kind-hearted,  hospitable  people  than  the  Cubans,  partic 
ularly  to  "  Los  Americanos,"  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  ;  no  trouble 
is  too  great  for  them  if  you  can  make  them  comprehend  the  purpose 
of  what  you  desire  ;  and  the  "  oiling  of  the  palm  "  is  just  as  effectual 
amongst  these  primitive  peope  of  the  interior  as  in  more  civilized 
lands.  Many  of  the  people  speak  English,  a  great  many  French, — • 
which,  in  fact,  is  the  household  language  in  some  parts  of  the  Island, — 
and  many  of  the  young  men  one  finds  have  been  regularly  educated 
in  the  United  States. 

In  arranging  money  matters,  unless  one  is  very  extravagant  indeed 
in  his  daily  expenditures,  five  dollars  gold  per  day  is  a  very  fair 
allowance  for  ordinary  expenses  while  on  the  Island  for  simply  living 
and  traveling ;  while,  of  course,  if  one  desires  to  be  extravagant  or 
make  purchases,  there  are  just  as  many  ways  of  getting  rid  of 
money  as  in  other  places. 

The  provision  for  these  expenses  can  best  be  made  by  a  letter  oj 
credit.  As  exchange  on  London  is  generally  at  a  premium  in 
Havana,  a  bill  of  exchange  even  up  to  ninety  days  on  some  well- 
known  house  can  be  disposed  of  to  advantage ;  as,  however,  there  is 
not  the  same  system  of  banking  in  Havana  as  there  is  with  us,  the 
best  arrangement  for  the  general  traveler  is  to  take  a  letter  of  credit 
on  some  well-known  house  in  Havana.  He  will  then  only  have  to 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS   OF  THE   ISLAND.  381 

pay  for  money  as  he  uses  it,  he  has  no  trouble  in  carrying  money 
with  him,  and  such  houses  will  furnish  letters  of  credit  to  other  parts 
of  the  Island,  which  is  a  great  convenience. 

An  amount  of  silver  in  ten-cent  pieces,  which  pass  readily  as  the 
"  real  sencilla," — say  from  twenty  to  fifty  dollars7  worth,  will  be 
found  very  convenient  for  the  thousand  and  one  daily  expenses  of 
the  traveler,  small  change  being  scarce.  Other  silver  coin  it  is  not 
advisable  to  take,  since  our  twenty-five  cent  pieces  pass  for  only 
twenty  cents  {peseta),  and  the  half  dollars  (inedio  peso)  for  only  forty 
cents.  American  gold  passes  readily,  being  generally  at  a  premium 
of  seven  or  eight  per  cent. ;  and  if  you  can  supply  yourself  with  the 
Spanish  doubloons  at  their  intrinsic  value  of  sixteen  dollars,  they 
will  pass  for  seventeen  dollars  in  Cuba,  as  that  is  their  value  fixed  by 
the  government  to  keep  the  coin  in  the  country. 

Letters  of  Introduction. 

Letters  of  introduction  to  business  men  in  Havana  are  really  not 
worth  the  paper  they  are  written  on,  no  matter  by  whom  written,  or 
in  whose  favor  given ;  for  the  merchants  receive  such  hosts  of  them 
that  it  would  be  impossible,  even  had  they  the  inclination,  to  show 
attentions  to  the  bearers.  Many  amusing  incidents  we  could  give  of 
persons  with  really  strong  letters,  presenting  the  same  under  the 
impression  that  at  least  some  ordinary  civility  would  be  shown  them, 
when  on  the  contrary  they  were  astonished  by  the  very  blunt  ques 
tion  addressed  to  them,  without  preface,  of — "  Well,  what  do  you 
want?" 

Letters  to  planters  or  citizens  will  be  found  very  useful  and  are 
generally  well  and  politely  received,  particularly  those  to  the  owners 
of  sugar  and  coffee  estates,  than  whom  a  more  hospitable,  kindly 
people  it  is  hard  to  find.  They  are  generally  very  glad  indeed  to 
entertain  you  at  their  places,  if  they  themselves  are  living  there ;  or 
if  not,  and  you  desire  to  visit  a  sugar  estate,  are  kind  enough  to  for 
ward  you,  with  a  letter,  to  the  administrator  of  the  estate,  who  con 
stantly  lives  upon  it,  and  will  take  good  care  of  you. 

Clothing  for  a  stay  on  the  Island  needs  to  be  of  the  very  lightest 


382          FIRST   IMPRESSIONS   OF  THE  ISLAND. 

summer  kind ;  and  one  can  wear,  almost  without  intermission,  linen 
clothes,  or  a  light  suit  of  summer  woolens.  The  nights  during  the 
winter  months  are  quite  cool  and  agreeable  for  sleep,  but  the  middle 
of  the  day  is  always  warm,  the  average  temperature  in  Havana  being 
about  eighty  degrees.  Clothing,  particularly  linens,  of  all  kinds  can 
be  purchased,  of  the  best  kinds  and  makes,  in  Havana,  and  at  very 
reasonable  prices ;  and  there  are  certain  styles  of  dresses  that  can  be 
much  better  purchased  there  than  at  home,  some  of  them  being  made 
specially  for  the  Cuban  market. 

A  suggestion,  prompted  by  experience,  we  would  here  make  to 
any  one  intending  to  leave  the  traveled  routes  (as  in  fact  it  applies  as 
well  to  the  towns,  where  they  have  no  baggage  carts),  and  that  is  to 
have  one's  baggage  in  the  shape  of  good-sized  valises  (maletas),  for 
these  can  be  easily  handled,  can  even  be  put  in  the  car  with  the 
owner,  and,  in  the  country,  strapped  on  the  back  of  mules  or  horses, 
which  is  the  common  mode  of  transportation  the  people  are  familiar 
with. 

Singular  Beds  and  Mattresses. 

If  the  traveler  is  an  invalid,  and  proposes  to  go  to  other  places 
than  Havana  and  Matanzas,  it  will  be  well  to  provide  himself  with 
an  air-pillow,  and,  if  he  cannot  sleep  on  a  somewhat  hard  bed,  an  air- 
mattress  also.  Few  of  the  hotels  even  in  Havana  are  provided  with 
mattresses  to  the  beds,  and  the  pillows  are  generally  stuffed  with  hard 
cotton  or  hair,  the  beds  being  a  simple  sacking  bottom,  covered  with 
a  linen  sheet.  This  may  seem,  at  first,  a  great  hardship,  accustomed 
as  we  are  to  our  patent  spring-mattresses  ;  but  they  are  much  cooler 
and,  after  a  little  experience,  as  comfortable  for  that  climate  as  are 
mattresses. 

Half  a  dozen  towels  will  not  be  found  amiss,  as  at  some  of  the 
smaller  places  the  supply  is  somewhat  short.  And  in  speaking  of 
invalids  who  are  very  far  gone  with  any  organic  disease,  very  few 
indeed  are  ever  very  much  benefited  by  a  stay  on  the  Island,  any  more 
than  that  they  avoid  the  inclemencies  and  changes  of  a  northern 
winter ;  though  there  are  cases  in  which  some  wonderful  cures  have 
been  effected,  particularly  in  the  Island  of  Pines. 


FIRST   IMPRESSIONS   OF  THE   ISLAND.  383 

For  the  overworked  man  of  business,  however,  the  debilitated  or 
weakly  person,  or  one  whose  system  has  from  some  cause  or  other 
become  reduced,  the  climate  and  scenes  of  Cuba  will  work  wonders  : 
and  all  such  cases  generally  go  back  at  the  end  of  the  winter  com 
pletely  restored.  But  the  poor  consumptive,  who  has  left  it  till  it  is 
too  late  for  anything  in  this  world  to  do  him  good,  only  comes  out 
here  to  have  his  high  hopes  entirely  dispelled,  particularly  when  he 
finds  so  many  of  the  ordinary  comforts  to  which  he  is  accustomed, 
and  which  are  so  necessary  to  the  invalid,  entirely  unheard  of. 

It  is  safe  for  the  stranger  to  visit  the  Island  any  time  after  Decem 
ber,  though  January  and  February  are  the  gay  months,  and  he  can 
remain  until  even  the  first  of  June,  though  in  May  they  have  it  very 
hot  indeed,  and  also  some  little  fever  amongst  the  shipping.  If  it  is 
necessary  for  the  invalid  to  leave  home  in  October,  before  the  winter 
of  the  north  sets  in,  he  can  visit  the  Island  with  safety,  but  will  find 
it  pleasanter  to  go  directly  to  some  of  the  "  places  of  recreo"  as  they 
are  called,  near  the  city, — which  are  simply  pretty  villages,  such  as 
Guines,  Marianao,  and  Puentes  Grandes,  where  good  accommodations 
can  always  be  had. 

Merry  Christmas. 

There  is,  however,  not  much  to  be  done  or  seen  before  January,  if 
one  wants  to  make  simply  a  pleasure  trip  of  it ;  for  at  Christmas 
almost  all  the  families  visit  their  estates  and  distribute  presents  to  the 
hands,  making  a  week's  regular  holiday  of  it;  after  which  the  grind 
ing  season  begins  on  the  sugar  plantations,  and  the  business  of  the 
town  becomes  quick  and  active.  Carnival  season,  the  week  before 
Lent,  is  the  jolly  season  of  the  year,  when  everybody  gives  up  to 
the  spirit  of  pure  enjoyment  and  mischief:  and  it  is  then  the 
Habafieros  are  seen  unbending  from  their  usually  dignified  manner, 
and  giving  loose  rein  to  their  tastes  for  balls,  masks  and  spectacles. 

Holy  Week,  the  closing  of  the  Lenten  season,  has  also  its  attrac 
tions  in  a  country  so  thoroughly  Romanistic  as  Cuba ;  and  the  pro 
cessions  and  ceremonies  of  the  church,  some  of  which  are  carried  on 
with  great  solemnity  and  splendor,  will  interest  the  Protestant 
traveler. 


384  FIRST   IMPRESSIONS   OF   THE   ISLAND. 

Many  persons  make  the  trip  to  Havana  and  back  solely  for  the  sea 
voyage,  from  which  they  derive  great  benefit,  simply  staying  over  one 
steamer.  We  have  known  business  men  in  New  York,  who  would 
not  tear  themselves  away  until  actually  sent  away  by  their  doctors, 
take  the  voyage  out,  remain  ten  days  in  Havana,  and  return 
thoroughly  recuperated  men — so  wonderful  is  the  effect  of  the  sea  air 
in  the  Gulf  Stream,  and  the  immense  let-up  afforded  by  the  entire 
change  of  customs,  scenes  and  language  at  Havana. 

As  the  steamers  are  large  and  well  patronized,  their  accommoda 
tions  are  of  the  very  best  class,  and  one  is  always  sure  to  find  plea 
sant  company  on  board  with  whom  to  while  away  agreeably  the  short 
passage  of  even  four  days. 

"  We  left  behind  the  painted  buoy 

That  tossed  at  the  harbor-mouth  ; 
And  madly  danced  our  hearts  with  joy, 

As  fast  we  fleeted  to  the  South. 
How  fresh  was  every  sight  and  sound 

On  open  main  or  winding  shore  ! 
We  knew  the  merry  world  was  round, 

And  we  might  sail  forever  more. 

Warm  broke  the  breeze  against  the  brow, 

Dry  sang  the  tackle,  sang  the  sail ; 
The  lady's  head  upon  the  prow 

Caught  the  shrill  salt,  and  sheered  the  gale. 
The  broad  seas  swelled  to  meet  the  keel, 

And  swept  behind  ;  so  swift  the  run, 
We  felt  the  good  ship  shake  and  reel, 

We  seemed  to  sail  into  the  sun." 

"Will  make  Cuba  in  the  morning,  sir,"  says  the  captain;  and  so 
we  stroll  forward  to  watch  the  porpoises  as  they  race  along  with  the 
steamer  through  the  blue  water,  or  amuse  ourselves  watching  the 
tiny  mariner,  the  nautilus,  as  it  floats  lightly  on  the  wave.  With 
night  comes  the  never-failing  pleasure  of  leaning  over  the  vessel's 
stern  with  some  charming  fair  one,  watching  the  ever-sparkling 
beauties  of  the  phosphorescent  light  in  the  vessel's  wake,  and  enjoy 
ing  that  indescribable  pleasure  of  a  tropical  night  at  sea. 


FIRST   IMPRESSIONS   OF   THE   ISLAND.  385 

"  Cuba  is  in  sight,  sir;  can  see  it  through  your  window,"  says  the 
steward,  rousing  you  up  on  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day  out ;  and, 
turning  over  in  your  berth,  there,  sure  enough,  are  seen  the  hills  of 
Cuba,  and  the  indistinct  outlines  of  the  Morro  Castle — looking,  as 
you  see  them  through  your  window,  like  some  beautiful  painting  to 
which  the  oval  of  the  dead-eye  forms  a  frame. 

We  are  fortunate  in  arriving  so  opportunely,  for,  had  we  arrived 
the  previous  evening  after  sundown,  though  it  were  still  daylight,  we 
would  have  been  compelled  to  lie  outside  all  night,  as  no  vessels  are 
allowed  to  enter  after  evening  gun-fire,  at  sundown.  There  are  the 
signals  flying  in  the  morning  breeze  from  the  watch-tower  of  the 
grim  Morro  Castle ;  and  as  we  approach  more  nearly,  we  distinguish 
our  dear  old  bunting,  rivaling  with  its  stars  and  stripes  even  the 
bright  sky  and  sparkling  waves. 

First  View  of  Havana. 

And  now  we  have  before  us  a  full  view  of  Havana  and  its  sur 
roundings — the  Morro  Castle  to  the  left ;  to  the  right,  the  city,  with 
the  fort  of  La  Punta  (historic,  too)  on  its  extreme  point — the  white, 
blue,  and  yellow-colored  houses,  with  their  red-tiled  roofs,  looking 
fresh  and  bright  in  this  breezy  January  morning. 

Still  later,  we  are  passing  within  easy  stone-throw  of  the  grim- 
looking  Morro,  from  whose  frowning  battlements  the  sentry  hails  as 
we  go  swiftly  by ;  there,  to  the  left,  the  white  walls  on  the  abrupt  hills 
of  the  Cabanas  fortifications  ;  to  the  right,  again,  the  bay  side-walls  of 
the  city,  with  the  roofs  of  houses  and  towers  of  churches  piled  up  in 
close  proximity;  and  there,  fresh  and  green,  like  an  oasis  in  the  des 
ert  of  stone  houses,  the  small  but  pretty  Cortina  de  Valdes,  looking 
so  invitingly  cool  in  the  shade  of  its  trees ;  some  of  the  other  Paseos 
in  the  outer  portion  of  the  city  being  marked  out  by  the  long,  regu 
lar  rows  of  green  trees  that  stretch  away  until  they  are  lost  in  the 
distant  buildings. 

How  one's  heart  leaps  at  such  a  quaint,  novel  scene  as  this  ! 
Havana,  around  whose  walls  cluster  so  many  memories  of  the  once 
haughty  Spanish  Dons,  whose  foundation  dates  back  nearly  two  cen- 
25 


386  FIRST   IMPRESSIONS   OF  THE   ISLAND. 

turies  before  our  own  noble  country  was  settled;  what  visions  of 
gold-laden  ships,  of  wild,  reckless,  murderov^  freebooters,  expeditions 
of  gallant  early  adventurers  and  discoverers,  and  more  lately  the 
realization  of  numerous  passages  of  Irving's  and  Prescott's  glowing 
descriptions,  come  flooding  upon  one  as  he  sees  for  the  first  time  this 
apparently  beautiful  city ! 

Still  swiftly  gliding  on  up  the  bay,  passing  as  we  go  the  Spanish 
men-of-war  and  vessels  of  all  nations  sailing  in  and  out,  we  see  to 
great  advantage  this  far-famed  beautiful  bay ;  a  turn  to  the  right,  and 
we  see  the  long  line  of  covered  wharves,  with  the  shipping  of  the 
world  lying  side  by  side,  waiting  the  completion  of  their  cargoes ;  to 
the  left,  the  white  walls  of  still  another  fort — the  Casa  Blanca — that 
commands  the  city,  and  farther  on  in  front  of  us  we  see  the  little 
town  of  Regla,  with  its  immense  warehouses  of  solid  stone  and  cor 
rugated  iron  for  storing  the  sugar  of  the  Island,  as  substantial  and 
handsome  in  their  structure  as  any  the  world  can  show.  And  now 
we  are  at  anchor. 

The  custom-house  officers  come  on  board,  and  the  steamer  is  sur 
rounded  by  a  perfect  fleet  of  small  boats,  that  are  a  cross  between  a 
market-wagon  and  a  scow,  from  which  rush  a  horde  of  hotel-run 
ners,  all  expatiating  upon  the  merits  of  their  particular  hotels,  some 
of  them  in  the  most  amusing  broken  English. 

These  boats,  by-the-by,  are  afloat  what  the  "  volante  "  is  ashore ; 
and  the  traveler  must  needs  use  many  of  them  if  he  wishes  to  see 
anything  of  the  bay  and  surroundings  of  Plavana.  Small  boats  are 
not  allowed  to  carry  more  than  five  passengers,  or  the  large  ones  ten  ! 
"  From  ten  and  a  half  o'clock  at  night  until  the  firing  of  the  signal 
gun  at  daybreak  in  the  morning,  no  boats  will  be  allowed  to  pass  in 
the  bay."  The  traveler  is,  however,  on  all  long  trips,  advised  to 
make  a  bargain  with  the  boatman,  using  care  that  he  is  not  over 
charged. 

Having  made  up  our  mind  before  leaving  the  steamer  as  to  which 
hotel  we  propose  to  patronize,  we  point  out  our  baggage  to  the 
runner  of  that  hotel,  who  will  take  charge  of  it,  and  we  shall  have  no 
further  trouble  about  it,  except  to  pass  it  at  the  custom-house  on 


FIRST   IMPRESSIONS   OF   THE   ISLAND.  387 

landing.  The  runner  has  also  a  boat,  into  which  we  go,  and  have  no 
trouble  about  fares,  the  which  are  settled  for,  and  with  the  baggage 
charges  will  be  found  in  his  hotel  bill  "  all  right." 

Now  comes  the  fun.  The  passengers  crowd  into  the  little  boats, 
a  pile  of  baggage  is  stowed  forward,  the  sail  is  set  and  away  skims 
the  little  tub  to  the  custom-house,  each  one  trying  to  get  there  first. 
Arrived  there,  the  voyager  has  his  first  experience  of  a  Cosas  de  Cuba 
in  the  shape  of  a  stalwart  negro  who  takes  a  trunk,  no  matter  how 
large,  from  the  boat,  places  it  on  his  head,  and  in  the  most  nonchalant 
manner  walks  off  with  it  to  the  examining  office  as  though  it  were  a 
trifle  instead  of  a  trunk  on  his  brain,  if  he  has  any  at  all  of  that 
organ.  The  officers  are  very  easy  and  polite  ;n  their  examination  of 
baggage,  passing  everything  almost  with  a  merely  nominal  examina 
tion,  particularly  if  the  keys  are  politely  and  readily  produced. 

Hacks  and  Hotels. 

And  now  we  are  in  Havana,  arid  free  to  go  wh^re  we  like,  notwith 
standing  those  two  military  statues  at  the  door,  who  look  at  us  so 
fiercely  as  we  go  by.  Outside  the  custom-house  will  be  found  hacks, 
which  for  twenty  cents  will  carry  the  traveler  where  he  wants  to  go. 

But  here  we  are  at  our  hotel,  and  plenty  of  hotels  there  are  to 
satisfy  every  taste  and  purse,  though  somewhat  different  from  our 
great  caravansaries.  The  ease  and  comforts  (or  lack  of  such,  as  we 
know  them)  of  one  of  the  hotels  are  most  acceptable  with  their  cafe 
con  Icche  or  chocolate  at  early  morning,  their  eleven  o'clock  breakfast 
of  luscious  fruits  and  cool  salads,  and  their  abundant  and  pleasant 
dinners  at  five  or  six  o'clock. 

After  dinner  comes  the  delicious  drive  on  the  "  Paseo,"  where 
magnificent  equipages,  lovely  women,  and  well-dressed  men,  added 
to  the  beautiful  surroundings  of  stately,  graceful  palms,  and  avenues 
of  tropical  trees,  make  up  a  scene  that  will  vie  with  anything  the 
world  can  show,  the  day  ending,  maybe,  by  a  charming  stroll  in  the 
magnificent  grounds  of  "  El  Jardin  Botanico,"  at  the  Governor- 
General's,  where,  at  no  expense,  and  without  let  or  hindrance,  one 
can  wander  for  hours  at  a  time  through  a  garden  that  in  its  luxuriant 


388  FIRST   IMPRESSIONS   OF   THE   ISLAND. 

magnificence  of  trees,  fruits  and  flowers  rivals  anything  the  eye  ha^ 
ever  seen  in  America. 

"  Cafe,  solo  o  con  leche  ?  "  (coffee  with  or  without  milk)  is  about  the 
first  thing  one  hears  of  a  morning  in  a  Spanish  hotel,  as  "  Boots  "  puts 
his  head  in  at  the  door  to  make  the  inquiry  ;  and  as,  to  make  use  of  a 
common  expression,  "you  pay  your  money  and  you  have  your 
choice,"  you  will  very  quickly  decide,  if  you  want  to  get  into  Cuban 
ways,  to  have  it  thus  early  in  the  morning  con  leche.  Our  reasons  for 
thb  are  that  in  Cuba  the  custom  is,  on  first  rising,  to  take  only  a  cup 
of  coffee  or  chocolate,  with  a  bit  of  dry  toast  or  roll,  which  satisfies 
the  appetite  until  the  regular  breakfast-hour  of  nine,  ten,  or  eleven 
o'clock ;  and  experience  has  taught  that  coffee  with  milk  on  an  empty 
stomach  is  better  than  the  coffee  without  (or  cafe  noir\  which  is  best 
as  a  digestor  after  meals.  Fruit,  also,  in  the  morning  on  rising  is 
used,  and  is  very  palatable ;  but  a  little  experience  will  show  that 
the  Cuban  fashion  of  beginning  the  breakfast  with  fruit  is  best 

Excellent  Restaurants. 

Havana,  city  as  it  is  of  quite  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  inhab 
itants,  with  abundance  of  travel  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  does 
not  boast  of  one  first-class  hotel,  as  we  understand  the  word,  though 
there  are  several  where  the  traveler,  if  he  is  not  too  particular,  can  be 
tolerably  comfortable.  There  is  no  giving  the  reason  for  this — the 
fact  is  so,  and  though  there  are  numbers  of  excellent  restaurants  kept 
by  Spaniards  and  French,  yet  there  are  but  few  hotels  kept  by  those 
people  that  are  more  than  passable. 

The  city  is  large,  there  are  constant  arrivals  of  people  from  other 
portions  of  the  Island,  and  in  the  winter  season  there  are  crowds  of 
travelers  from  abroad ;  and  yet,  if  you  discuss  the  matter  with  a 
Cuban,  he  will  only  shrug  his  shoulders,  and  remark,  "  It  won't  pay." 

But  what  more  can  be  expected  from  a  city  that  does  not 
possess  a  chimney  in  its  whole  vast  extent  of  private  dwellings? 
Who  ever  heard  even  of  a  house  without  a  chimney?  They  don't 
need  them  here,  you  say  ?  Well,  how  do  you  account,  then,  for  the 
absence  of  the  other  things  ? — you  can't  say  they  don't  need  them. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 
Curious  Sights  in  Havana. 

TO  see  the  curiosities  of  Havana  and 'its  neighborhood  properly, 
there  is  necessarily  involved,  in  addition  to  a  large  expendi 
ture  of  shoe-leather,  much  expenditure  of  rcales  and  pesetas 
in  cab  hire.  -Although  there  are  few  passenger  railways  in  Havana, 
yet  from  the  abundance  of  all  kinds  of  public  vehicles  it  can  not  be 
said  that  they  are  missed  much,  since,  if  it  is  desired  to  go  to  any 
particular  spot,  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  wait  in  front  of  your  hotel 
or  at  the  corner  of  the  street,  and  inside  of  three  minutes  you  will 
have  your  choice  of  perhaps  a  dozen  vehicles,  that  are  constantly 
passing  in  every  direction,  and  which,  for  twenty  cents,  will  carry 
you  to  any  part  of  the  city. 

These  comprise  various  kinds  and  styles ;  but  the  one  most  in  use 
to-day,  and  the  latest  novelty,  is  the  "  Victoria,"  a  very  comfortable 
four-wheeled  affair,  with  seats  for  two,  and  in  front  a  seat  upon  the 
box  for  the  driver  of  the  one  horse  required  to  draw  it.  All  of  these 
vehicles  are  the  property  of  a  few  owners. 

Such  is  the  constant  busy  travel,  that  there  is  always  a  great 
demand  for  them,  even  at  what  would  seem  a  high  price,  in  com 
parison  with  what  the  caleseros  (drivers)  are  allowed  to  charge  the 
passengers ;  and  yet  the  owners  could  rent  out  a  greater  number 
still,  each  driver,  at  that  rate,  making  from  two  to  four  dollars  per  day. 

Wherever  you  go  in  the  city,  you  see  a  constant  stream  of  these 
carriages  going  in  every  direction,  without  and  with  occupants  ;  those 
that  are  not  occupied  have  a  little  tin  sign  hanging  over  the  box, 
"  Se  alquila  "  (to  hire).  One  of  the  owners  of  a  line  of  these  car 
nages  had  made  over  $100,000,  and  was  desirous  of  selling  out  and 
going  back  to  his  belle  France,  whence  he  originally  came. 

Although  the  popular  name  of  the  "  volante  "  has  made  it  familial 

389 


390 


CURIOUS   SIGHTS   IN   HAVANA. 


OLD   VOLANTE. 


even  to  the  foreign  mind,  there  is  in  fact  a  great  mistake  about  that 
conveyance — since  the  volante  proper  was  a  different  affair  in  times 
gone  by,  and  is  to-day,  from  what  is  now  called  volante,  which  in 
truth  is  really  the  "  quitrin."  The  old  volante  is  now  almost  extinct, 
or  used  simply  by  some  business  man  to  drive  to  and  from  his  place 

of  business,  or  is  found  in  a  very 
dilapidated  state  in  some  of  the 
interior  towns  of  the  Island. 

It,  like  the  volante  vulgar,  is  a 
two-wheeled  affair,  with  long  shafts, 
which  rest  upon  the  horse  or  mule, 
upon  whose  back  sits  the  driver  in 
a  clumsily-made  big  saddle.  The 
shafts  have  one  end  resting  upon  the  axle,  the  other  upon  the  horse, 
on  the  same  principle  as  the  poles  of  the  old-fashioned  litter;  and  the 
volante  body  is  also  on  the  same 
principle,  being  with  its  huge  leather 
springs,  constantly  in  motion  from 
side  to  side.  The  main  difference 
between  the  two  vehicles  is,  that  the 
old  volante  does  not  lower  its  top, 
which  is  permanent,  while  the  vo 
lante  or  quitrin  of  to-day  permits  of 
the  top  being  lowered  or  raised  at 
pleasure — a  very  great  improvement  and  convenience. 

As  public  vehicles  in  Havana,  these  are  fast  giving  entire  place  to 
the  carriage  and  the  Victoria  ;  but  the  private  quitrin  is,  and  always 
will  be,  one  of  the  cosas  de  Cuba,  for  it  is  the  only  vehicle  used  on  the 
bad  roads  by  the  families  in  going  to  and  from  their  places,  while  in 
the  city  it  is  splendidly  adorned  and  decorated  with  silver-platings 
and  rich  stuffs — the  most  elegant  and  handsome  affair  in  which  the 
Senoritas  can  take  their  airings,  and  show  off  their  handsome  persons. 
It  is  amusing  sometimes  to  see  these  long-poled  conveyances 
attempt  to  turn  one  of  the  corners  in  the  usually  narrow  streets  of  the 
old  town.  It  is  a  matter  of  considerable  difficulty,  the  horse  and 


VOLANTE  AS  IT  IS. 


CURIOUS   SIGHTS   IN   HAVANA.  391 

rider  appearing  as  though  they  would  have  to  enter  some  store- door 
to  get  out  of  the  way  of  the  volante  behind  it,  and  is  the  occasion  of 
much  hard  swearing.  A  few  years  ago  the  volante  was  the  only  con 
veyance  seen ;  and  now,  on  the  contrary,  one  sees  carriages  of  all 
kinds  and  styles,  of  as  fine  and  striking  appearance  as  anything  in 
Central  Park. 

But  the  volante  or  quitrin  of  the  livery-stable  is,  par  excellence, 
another  affair,  as  any  one  will  find  out  to  his  cost  who  orders  one 
innocently  from  the  stable  without  inquiring  its  expense.  When, 
however,  he  sees  it  drive  up  with  two  fine  horses,  the  calesero  in  a 
stunning  red  livery,  covered  with  gold  lace,  high  boots  coming  almost 
up  to  his  waist,  and  the  horses  decked  out  in  harness  that  reflects  the 
sun  from  a  hundred  silver-plated  buckles,  rings,  and  knobs,  he  begins 
to  have  a  glimmering  that  this  is  going  to  cost  something,  and  must 
"  be  settled  "  for. 

Different  Kinds  of  Vehicles. 

On  the  public  stands  can  also  be  had  two-horse  carriages,  usually 
very  comfortable  barouches,  and  used  generally  for  a  party  of  four  or 
five  for  a  drive  on  the  Paseo.  The  livery-stables,  also,  furnish  very 
handsome  carriages  of  the  same  kind,  which,  with  the  two- horse 
volantes,  can  be  had  at  all  times  by  applying  at  the  hotels,  as  they 
generally  have  some  particular  stable  at  which  they  get  carriages. 
The  prices  are  in  all  cases  quite  high  enough. 

An  American  traveler  in  Cuba  relates  the  following  incident : 
"  Cabmen  appear  to  be  the  same  the  world  over ;  and  I  shall  not  soon 
forget  an  amusing  episode  that  took  place  on  our  first  departure  from 
Havana.  One  of  these  fellows,  of  an  early  morning,  had  carried  us 
to  the  depot,  and  upon  settling  with  him  I  gave  him  double  fare  in 
consideration  of  his  putting  our  trunks  in  his  wagon.  This  was  a 
proceeding  so  unusual,  that  he  immediately  thought  I  must  be  a 
novice  indeed,  and  demanded  double  the  fare  already  paid  him.  I 
politely  declined  to  comply  with  his  request,  on  the  ground  that  I 
had  already  paid  him  double ;  whereupon  he  stormed  and  swore  that 
he  was  being  robbed,  very  much  to  our  amusement  and  that  of  the 


392  CURIOUS   SIGHTS   IN   HAVANA. 

bystanders.  I  could  not  resist  laughing  in  the  fellow's  face  at  his  cool 
impudence,  which  aggravated  him  so  much  that  he  thrust  the  fare 
back  into  my  hand,  vowing  he  would  take  nothing. 

"  I  thanked  him  very  kindly,  and,  with  the  utmost  gravity,  told 
him  I  would  drink  his  health,  and  raising  my  hat  to  him,  politely 
bade  him  good-by  ;  and,  showing  my  ticket,  was  about  entering  the 
cars,  when  the  fellow  was  so  taken  aback  at  this  peculiar  way  of 
meeting  him,  that  he  rushed  at  me,  holding  out  his  hand,  and 
remarked,  '  Ah,  you  are  an  American  ;  give  me  what  you  please ! ' 
upon  which  I  returned  him  his  gift,  and  left  him  with  a  smile  upon 
his  countenance,  and  the  remark,  '  A  pleasant  journey  to  you,  sir ; ' 
when,  had  you  seen  him  five  minutes  previously,  raving  and  lament 
ing,  you  would  have  truly  thought  he  really  meant  what  he  said." 

In  the  Public  Markets. 

It  is  always  a  matter  of  interest  to  the  traveler  in  any  land  to  know 
how  and  from  where  the  supplies  of  food  for  the  people  generally 
come ;  and  this  is  best  seen  by  a  visit  to  the  public  market-place, 
where  not  only  the  material  with  which  they  are  fed  can  be  seen,  but 
a  great  deal  may  be  learned  of  the  manners  and  habits  of  a  certain 
class  of  the  people  themselves.  Therefore,  as  fruit  is  said  to  be  best 
in  these  warm  climates  before  breakfast,  we  will  stroll  down  to  the 
markets,  and  while  doing  a  little  inspection  duty,  make  an  investment 
in  some  of  the  fruits  of  the  country. 

The  most  convenient  one  inside  the  city  is  that  of  the  <l  Mercado 
de  Cristina,"  in  the  Plaza  Vieja,  situated  at  the  corner  of  Teniente 
Rey  street  and  San  Ygnacio.  Here,  in  the  centre  of  a  hollow  square, 
the  sides  of  which  are  formed  of  ranges  of  stores  of  all  classes,  faced 
by  an  arcade,  is  one  of  the  great  marts  for  the  sale  of  vegetables, 
fruits  and  meats  for  the  supply  of  the  city.  It  is  a  large  stone  build 
ing  apparently,  though  really  a  simple  quadrangle,  open  to  the  sky, 
occupying  the  whole  of  a  square,  and  was  erected  in  1836,  during 
Tacon's  administration. 

The  arcade  of  stores  is  filled  with  shops  of  all  kinds,  but  princi 
pally  occupied  in  the  sale  of  such  "  notions  "  as  will  please  the  country 


CURIOUS   SIGHTS   IN   HAVANA.  393 

people  or  the  negroes,  while  the  Plaza  is  filled  with  immense  piles  of 
onions,  and  cabbages,  and  sweet  potatoes,  which  are  the  principal 
productions  of  the  Island  in  the  vegetable  way ;  and  there  are  smaller 
piles  of  oranges,  green  mangos,  pine-apples,  and  other  tropic  fruits, 
new  in  name  and  appearance ;  clusters  of  the  plantain,  or  banana,  as 
we  call  it,  of  various  colors,  and  pyramids  of  the  green  cocoa  fruit 
meet  the  eye  at  every  turn,  all  presided  over  by  dusky  negroes  in  all 
varieties  of  costume,  or  swarthy  Cubans,  the  native  country  people. 
These  come  in  from  the  surrounding  country  with  their  products, 
raised  upon  the  small  estancia  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  city.  Here 
and  there,  too,  may  be  seen  the  patient  donkey,  with  his  load  of  green 
fodder,  giving  comic  life  to  the  scene. 

Wholesome  Vegetables. 

The  plantain,  of  which  we  see  such  large  quantities  exposed,  is  the 
vegetable  upon  which  the  lower  classes  depend  for  food,  and  which 
is  cooked  in  various  ways;  and  with  the  "  tasajo"  (jerked  beef,  or 
fish),  constitutes  the  diet  of  the  poor.  Of  the  many  delightful  vege 
tables  that  grow  in  such  abundance  in  our  summer  season,  there  is 
not  a  single  one  to  be  seen.  Of  berries  of  any  kind  there  is  not  one 
raised  upon  the  Island,  owing  to  the  great  heat,  which  burns  them  up, 
it  is  said.  The  market  presents  a  very  different  appearance  from  one 
of  ours,  with  its  profusion  of  everything  arranged  in  the  tidy-looking 
stalls,  and  presided  over  by  clean-looking  vendors. 

Here  it  is  very  different ;  a  great  proportion  of  the  market  people 
are  negroes,  most  of  whom  are  free,  and  such  a  chattering  as  they 
keep  up,  particularly  the  women,  who  are  scolding,  laughing,  or  rail 
ing  at  each  other  in  the  most  deafening  way.  It  is  very  amusing  to 
walk  along  in  front  of  the  little  tables,  or  more  usually  the  piles  of 
fruit  on  the  ground,  and  buy  some  of  the  queer-looking  fruits  you 
see,  and  which  are  totally  unheard  of  by  the  names  which  the  negroes 
give  them,  many  of  them,  nevertheless,  being  quite  palatable. 

The  little  banana  and  the  orange  are,  however,  the  most  agreeable 
of  all,  tasting  very  pleasant  and  cool  in  the  early  morning  before 
one's  breakfast;  but  there  are  others  that  are  very  luscious  when 


394  CURIOUS   SIGHTS   IN   HAVANA. 

eaten  perfectly  ripe  and  in  season,  and  which  the  market  people  will 
gladly  tell  you  all  about,  as  soon  as  they  find  you  are  a  stranger, — 
particularly  an  "  Americano." 

The  choicest  of  these,  after  the  luscious  pine-apple,  orange,  and 
banana,  are  the  delicious  "  anon^  the  "  zapote"  and  the  "  mamey 
Colorado"  the  latter  sometimes  called  "  angels'  sweetmeats ;"  any  of 
which,  if  they  happen  to  be  in  season,  will  please  the  palate  of  the 
stranger,  if  he  is  fond  of  rich,  luscious  fruits  ;  many  persons  find  them 
too  rich  and  sweet. 

Having  heard  so  much  of  the  milk  of  the  cocoanut  when  drank 
fresh  from  the  green  fruit,  you  seize  this  opportunity  to  get  a  new 
experience  of  a  cosas  de  Cuba  ;  and,  negotiating  for  a  good  large  one, 
for  which  you  pay  un  media  (five  cents),  the  negro  takes  a  huge  sharp 
knife,  and  slices  off  the  top  of  the  fruit,  in  which  he  punches  a  hole 
from  which  you  are  to  drink.  Seizing  it  with  both  hands,  you  raise 
it  to  your  mouth  like  a  water-jar,  and  empty  the  contents,  as  you 
think,  down  your  throat ;  and  sweet,  cool,  and  pleasant  it  certainly  is  to 
the  palate,  only  this  is  rather  an  awkward  and  inconvenient  way  of 
drinking  it,  as  you  find  on  examining  your  shirt  front,  which  has 
received  a  good  share  of  the  contents. 

A  much  more  convenient  way  is  to  carry  the  green  cocoanut  to 
one's  hotel,  and  there,  pouring  out  the  milk  into  a  big  glass,  add 
plenty  of  ice  and  a  little  brandy,  and  it  makes  a  delicious  drink — 
sweet  and  wholesome — pronounced  capital  as  a  diuretic. 

Strolling  through  the  market,  one  sees  every  variety  of  Cuban 
peasant  and  negro — many  of  the  latter  coming  into  town  only  to 
bring  a  small  quantity  of  the  sugar-cane,  which  is  bought  and  eaten 
by  the  people  with  great  zest.  Then,  in  going  through  the  stores 
surrounding  the  market,  one  sees  innumerable  strange  sights  and 
articles,  a  busy  throng  of  buyers  and  sellers  of  all  kinds  of  merchan 
dise,  of  oddities  and  antiquities  of  architecture;  and,  perhaps,  heard 
above  all  the  din  and  bustle,  are  the  loud  nasal  tones  of  the  lottery- 
ticket  vender,  calling  out  in  his  protracted  high  key  the  number  of 
tfie  tickets  he  has  for  sale. 

From  here  we  will  stroll  over  to  the  fish  market,  or  "  Pescaderia," 


CURIOUS   SIGHTS   IN   HAVANA.  395 

as  it  is  called,  and  see  another  cosas  de  Cuba.  This  is  situated  over 
on  the  other  side  of  the  town,  on  the  bay  side,  and  we  reach  it  by 
going  directly  along  the  street  Mercaderes,  on  the  lower  side  of  this 
market,  which  conies  out  directly  opposite  the  fish-market,  in  Empe- 
drado  street. 

It  is  a  well-built  stone  building,  with  the  lower  portion  open 
on  the  side  facing  the  street,  and  supported  by  pillared  arches, 
which  give  the  place  somewhat  the  appearance  of  an  arcade. 
In  the  interior,  as  permanent  structures,  in  lieu  of  tables,  are  square 
stone  forms  with  tiled  tops,  upon  which  the  fish,  fresh  from  the  sea, 
are  exposed  for  sale,  and  which  are  of  great  variety,  many  of  them 
resembling  ours — such  as  the  flounder,  and  bass,  and  one  something 
like  the  blue-fish.  All  the  fish  on  the  coast  are  very  fine,  with 
some  few  exceptions, — as  the  pez  espada,  gato,  picua,  and  some 
others  that  have  the  peculiarity  of  making  persons  sick,  or  poisoning 
those  that  eat  of  them. 

The  Lively  Shark. 

Of  all  the  many  species  (and  there  are  said  to  be  one  hundred 
species  and  more),  the  pargo  and  the  rabi-rubia  are  the  best,  being 
somewhat  scarce,  except  during  the  prevalence  of  north  winds  in 
the  winter  season,  when  they  sell  as  low  as  twelve  cents  per  pound. 
The  shark,  small  and  large,  in  pieces  or  whole,  may  also  be  seen 
here  for  sale,  under  its  name  of  " tiburon?  the  which  abounds  in 
these  waters,  and  from  it  is  extracted  the  oil.  It  is  very  fierce,  and 
many  accidents  happen  each  year  from  persons  recklessly  going  in 
to  bathe  in  some  of  the  bays  frequented  by  these  creatures,  who 
attack  the  swimmers  without  hesitation,  and  gobble  a  leg  or  arm,  or 
maybe  the  whole  person ;  the  little  ones,  that  are  called  "  cazones," 
are  eaten. 

Their  fish  are  not  all  brought  from  along  the  coast,  but  many  of 
the  larger  fishermen  have  properties  on  the  coast  of  Yucatan,  and 
bring  the  fish  from  there,  as  also  from  Florida  and  the  Tortugas. 
Generally,  however,  the  first  come  from  the  coast  in  the  neighbor 
hood,  many  being  caught  just  off  the  bay. 


396  CURIOUS   SIGHTS   IN   HAVANA. 

At  the  little  village  of  Chorrera,  directly  on  the  coast  and  about 
two  miles  from  Havana,  is,  however,  the  great  fishing  place  for  this 
district,  and  one  can  go  out  any  time,  taking  the  passenger  (horse) 
cars  at  the  station  opposite  the  Tacon  theatre,  and  going  out  there. 
The  cars  leave  every  hour,  take  about  half  an  hour  to  go,  and  return 
the  following  hour  ;  fare  twenty  cents.  On  the  way  out,  the  traveler 
passes  through  a  portion  of  the  city  he  is  not  otherwise  likely  to  see. 
that  is  parallel  with  the  coast,  passing  by,  also,  the  large  charitable 
institution,  the  Real  Casa  de  Beneficencia,  at  the  corner  of  the  street 
Belascoin. 

A  Large  Donation. 

This  is  a  flourishing  institution,  being  an  asylum  for  destitute 
orphans  and  the  prevention  of  vagrancy,  by  putting  all  vagrants 
therein.  It  was  established  during  the  time  of  Las  Casas,  in  1790-96, 
and  in  1802  enjoyed  the  protection  of  the  Marquis-Governor 
Someruelos,  who  at  one  donation  bestowed  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars.  It  is  a  fine,  large  building,  and  has  beautiful  grounds. 

The  village  of  Chorrera  itself  is  a  small  place,  celebrated  as  being 
the  first  site  of  Havana,  and  as  being  the  place  where  the  English 
attacked  and  landed,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  fort  or  castle 
blowing  it  up  and  retiring.  There  is  now  a  queer-looking  tower, 
with  portcullis,  still  there  for  protection,  though  the  Fort  Principe 
commands  the  place. 

It  is  rare  indeed  that  a  meal  in  Cuba  is  served  without  fish,  for  even 
in  the  interior  some  of  the  streams  are  abundantly  supplied.  It  is 
stated  by  one  of  the  old  authors  that  that  was  the  reason  all  the  set 
tlements  were  located  on  the  coast  of  Cuba  by  the  early  inhabitants, 
in  order  to  be  convenient  to  the  supplies  of  fish. 

In  connection  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  deep,  there  is  one  that 
they  have  in  Cuba,  known  as  the  manati,  a  species  of  sea-hog,  some 
what  resembling  those  met  with  in  Florida — different  from  the  sea- 
calf  or  cow — that  frequents  the  mouth  of  the  rivers,  and  even  mounts 
up  on  the  earth.  From  its  flesh  they  make  tasajo,  its  oil  is  useful  and 
medicinal,  and  from  its  skin  canes  are  made  that  are  very  beautiful, 
but  very  expensive. 


CURIOUS   SIGHTS   IN    HAVANA.  397 

Of  the  shell-fish  there  is  a  great  variety, — amongst  them  the 
lobster,  the  craw-fish,  and  (best  of  all)  the  shrimp,  both  salt  and  fresh 
water,  which  is  par  excellence  the  most  delicious  thing  they  have  on 
the  Island,  being  as  tender  and  resembling  the  white  meat  of  the 
crab.  They  are  eaten  simply  boiled,  and  served  cold  with  a  little 
salt,  or  made  into  a  delicious  salad.  Some  of  them  are  quite  large, 
and  resemble  a  lobster-claw,  are  considered  very  wholesome,  and  used 
in  great  profusion  all  over  the  Island.  Camarones,  bear  in  mind,  is 
the  name  for  them  in  Cuba,  and  they  are  identically  the  same  as  those 
we  have  south. 

The  Cuban  oysters  are  quite  small,  and  it  would  take  a  dozen  of 
them  to  make  one  of  our  noble  York  river  oysters  or  chincoteagues ; 
but  they  are  nevertheless  very  good,  being  very  appetizing,  eaten  at 
breakfast,  as  they  have  the  briny  and  somewhat  coppery  taste  of  the 
French  oyster. 

Fish  and  Fishermen. 

To  finish  up  the  morning's  walk  before  breakfast,  let  us  take  a 
Victoria  out  to  the  other  market  of  Tacon — unless,  indeed,  you  want 
to  turn  the  corner  here,  go  up  those  old  stone  steps,  and  take  a  stroll 
along  the  Paseo  de  Valdes,  which  is  cool  and  shady  at  this  hour  in 
the  morning.  Then,  too,  perhaps,  at  this  end  near  the  steps,  we  may 
see  some  odd  kind  of  fish  we  have  not  seen  in  the  markets,  for  this 
is  also  frequented  at  times  by  fishermen,  who  do  a  small  trade  with 
the  negroes,  cutting  up  the  small  fish,  even  into  quarters  and  halves, 
to  sell  to  those  villainous,  filthy-looking  negroes,  who  are  probably 
too  lazy  to  work  to  buy  themselves  better  food. 

On  our  way  out,  since  it  is  a  fine,  breezy  morning,  and  the  sea  is 
coming  in  heavily,  we  will  pass  by  the  Puerta  de  la  Punta,  and  see 
the  surf  beating  on  the  rocks  in  a  most  beautiful,  violent  way,  dash 
ing  the  spray  high  in  air.  This  is  always  the  case  after  a  norther; 
and  it  is  a  most  attractive  sight,  either  after  or  during  one  of  these 
blows,  to  come  out  here  on  the  point  and  see  the  ocean  worked  up 
into  a  state  of  fury,  entirely  different  from  its  usually  calm,  placid 
appearance  ;  and  here,  just  outside  the  gate,  is  always  to  be  seen  a 
lively  party  in  that  cove-like  place  with  the  gravelly  shore — for  here 


398  CURIOUS   SIGHTS   IN    HAVANA. 

gather,  of  a  morning,  sometimes  as  many  as  a  dozen  or  more  negro 
drivers,  with  their  two  and  three  horses  each,  and  entirely  naked, 
except  a  short  pair  of  pants. 

They  swim  the  animals  into  the  salt  water,  which  is  most  ex 
cellent  for  them.  It  is  a  jolly  sight,  when  the  sea  is  rough,  to  see 
these  fellows,  laughing,  shouting  and  singing,  enjoying  their  bath  on 
horseback,  the  sea  breaking  clean  over  them  at  times,  and  the  horses 
bracing  themselves  against  the  shock  with  their  hind  quarters  to  the 
waves. 

The  odd-looking  building  you  see  in  the  background  is  the  old 
Bateria  de  la  Punta,  and  the  end  of  the  new  building  is  part  of  the 
government  ordnance  shed ;  the  circular-looking  iron  affairs  scattered 
along  the  shore  being  the  old-fashioned  sugar-pans. 

Special  Types  of  Cubans. 

And  now  for  the  Plaza  de  Vapor,  which  is  a  market  very  similar 
to  that  of  Cristina,  known  more  generally  as  "  Mercado  de  Tacon." 
It  is  situated  at  the  corner  of  Galiano  and  Reina  streets,  or  calzadas, 
the  name  generally  given  to  fine,  wide  streets  like  avenues.  This 
market  is  rather  better  in  appearance  than  the  others,  being  elevated 
some  distance  above  the  ground,  and  is  two  stories  in  height,  with 
very  good-sized  stores  around  its  four  sides,  with  the  portico  facing 
on  the  street,  the  market  itself  being  inside  the  square. 

Here  we  have  the  opportunity  of  seeing  to  advantage  special  types 
of  the  lower  class  of  Cubans, — countrymen  as  well  as  citizens.  Here, 
for  example,  is  the  malojero,  who  comes  from  some  distance  in  the 
country  simply  to  bring  that  load  of  maloja  that  he  has  on  the  back 
of  his  horse,  and  which  is  the  product  of  an  inferior  kind  of  corn  that 
does  not  run  to  seed,  and  is  raised  with  so  little  trouble  that  these 
lazy  fellows  prefer  to  let  it  grow  on  their  places  rather  than  trouble 
themselves  to  plant  crops  that  require  cultivation  and  attention. 

The  giiajiro,  or  small  property-owner  from  the  country,  is  also 
seen  here  in  his  glory,  with  his  varied  stock  of  produce  seeking  a 
market.  There  is  rather  greater  profusion  of  fruit  here,  but  the  meat 
carts  with  their  uninviting  loads  are  in  appearance  bad  enough  to 


CURIOUS   SIGHTS   IN    HAVANA.  399 

take  one's  appetite  away,  as  he  sees  these  sides  and  quarters  swinging 
to  and  fro,  or  piled  up  one  upon  the  other  in  these  small  carts  which 
bring  the  beef  from  the  mataderos  on  the  outskirts  of  town,  no 
butchering  being  allowed  within  the  city  limits. 

The  shops,  and  in  fact  the  whole  market,  present  the  same  general 
appearance  as  the  others ;  if  you  see  one  you  see  them  all,  with,  per 
haps,  this  difference — that  there  is  always  a  great  variety  in  the 
colored  human  nature,  which  at  times  presents  itself  very  grotesquely 
to  one's  notice. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 
Famous  Localities  and  Buildings. 

ONE  of  the   best   and  pleasantest  ways  of  getting  an   idea  o: 
Havana  within  the  walls,  and  particularly  that  portion  of  it 
lying   on  the  water  side,  is  to  hire  a  carriage  by  the  hour, 
and  start  early  in  the  morning,  or,  if  more  convenient,  after  an  early 
dinner  in  the  afternoon,  when  the   sun  is  sufficiently  down  to  make 
it  cool. 

There  is  always  this  advantage  in  going  anywhere  within  the  old 
city  in  the  afternoon — that  almost  the  entire  general  buisness  of  the 
city  is  confined  to  this  portion  of  it ;  and  as  most  of  the  mercantile 
houses  do  no  business  after  four  or  five  o'clock,  that  portion  of  the 
city  at  the  water  side  does  not  present  as  lively  an  appearance  as  in 
the  early  hours  of  the  morning,  when  the  business  community,  taking 
advantage  of  the  freshness  and  coolness,  attend  to  most  of  their  busi 
ness  out  doors  and  upon  the  quays,  which  thereby  present  a  much 
more  stirring  and  active  picture  to  the  stranger.  On  the  contrary, 
outside  the  walls  in  the  afternoon  all  is  life,  fashion,  and  pleasure. 

We  direct  the  driver  to  enter  the  city  by  the  extreme  north  gate, 
known  as  La  Puerta  de  la  Punta,  which  is  the  entrance  at  the  extreme 
e^nd  of  the  city  on  the  bay,  and  where  commenced  the  walls  of  the 
old  city,  which  are  here  entered  by  an  ordinary  stone  arch,  some 
twenty-four  feet  long,  the  sides  of  which  were  casemates  for  storing 
artillery  implements,  etc.,  while  the  top  of  it  formed  a  battery  en  bar 
bette,  with  terreplain,  stone  rampart,  and  a  slope  leading  up  from  the 
ground ;  while  mounted  for  defence  were  some  half-dozen  rusty,  old- 
fashioned  carronades  that  would  be  no  earthly  use  in  case  of  need, 
across  from  it  can  be  seen  the  Morro. 

Inside  the  gate   and  extending  along  the  street,  parallel  with  the 
water,  quite  up  to  the  Maestranza,  is  a  stone  covered  way,  with  a 
400 


FAMOUS  LOCALITIES  AND   BUILDINGS.         401 

stone  parapet  to  serve  as  breastworks  in  case  of  need.  Outside  the 
gate  and  to  the  left  is  the  landing  quay,  or  the  point  used  for  landing 
and  embarking  timber,  horses,  etc.,  and  a  good  place  whence  to  start 
for  the  Morro  Castle,  there  always  being  a  boat  or  two  there.  Con 
tinuing  down  Cuba  street,  we  come  to  a  fine,  large  building  on  the 
left  hand,  evidently  a  modern  affair,  built  of  brown  stone,  and  several 
stories  in  height. 

Here  are  the  offices  and  officers'  quarters,  and  in  fact  the  head 
quarters  of  the  artillery,  known  as  the  "  Maestranza,"  or  Parque  de 
Artilleria.  Keeping  on  down  past  the  building,  we  come  to  the  street 
Chacon,  turning  into  which  to  the  left  we  can  go  inside  the  arsenal 
belonging  to  the  Maestranza,  where  is  a  large  supply  of  ordnance  of 
various  kinds,  and  a  number  of  old  bronze  cannon,  bearing  some  very 
antique  inscriptions  and  strange  names,  such  as  the  "  Peacemaker," 
the  "  Thunderer,"  etc. 

Stone  Seats  and  Delightful  Breezes. 

Immediately  opposite  to  this  is  the  entrance  to  the  Paseo  de  Valdez, 
which  extends  along  the  bay  side  to  Empedrado  street.  We  direct 
the  carriage  to  meet  us  .at  the  other  end,  and  then  find  it  pleasant  to 
stroll  down  the  walk.  Though  the  Paseo  is  not  now  in  the  best 
order,  it  has  still  a  pretty  row  of  trees,  stone  seats,  and  always  a 
delightful  breeze,  and  commands  a  fine  view  of  the  fortifications  across 
the  bay. 

At  the  entrance  there  is  a  sort  of  an  arch  and  fountain  erected, 
which,  though  now  in  sad  repair,  has  been  in  its  day  quite  handsome, 
and,  as  its  tablet  informs  us,  was  erected  by  the  corps  of  Royal  Engi 
neers,  in  1843,  the  slab  upon  which  is  the  inscription  being  marble 
from  the  Isle  of  Pines,  and  on  the  top  of  which  are  grouped  different 
symbols  of  the  military  and  particularly  the  engineer  profession. 
Here,  of  an  early  morning,  it  is  pleasant  to  stroll,  if  you  have  nothing 
better  to  do,  and  hear  the  music  of  the  military  bands  performing 
inside  the  walls  of  the  Cabanas  opposite,  and  which  comes  softly  and 
pleasantly  mingling  with  the  breeze  of  the  ocean,  which  is  only  a  short 
distance  off. 

a 


402  FAMOUS    LOCALITIES   AND    BUILDINGS. 

Entering  the  carriage,  we  drive  through  the  street  Tacon,  passing 
the  Pescaderia  and  the  Intendencia,  which  is  directly  in  front  of  La 
Fuerza,  the  oldest  fort  in  the  city,  and  around  which  cluster  many 
traditions  of  antiquity,  of  assaults  and  defences,  and  attacks  of  pirates 
and  enemies.  Desiring  to  enter  and  see  it,  we  pass  around  into 
the  barrack  yard  on  O'Reilly  street,  and  are  permitted  to  go 
through  it.  It  is  still  a  star-shaped  bastioned  fort,  having  a  good 
line  of  fire  upon  the  entrance  and  the  bay,  and  having  fine,  large 
quarters  near  it  for  the  troops. 

An  Ancient  Fort. 

This  old  fort  dates  back  as  far  as  the  time  of  Fernando  de  Soto, 
the  conqueror  of  Florida  and  discoverer  of  the  Mississippi,  who,  being 
governor  of  the  Island,  gave  orders  to  the  engineer,  Captain  Aceituno, 
to  build,  in  1538,  this  fort,  allowing  for  the  purpose  the  sum  of  $4,000, 
—the  which  was  paid  by  the  inhabitants  of  Havana  and  Santiago  de 
Cuba,  for  the  purpose  of  having  a  fortified  place  on  this  side  the  Island. 
It  was  completed  six  or  seven  years  after  it  was  commenced.  At  the 
beginning,  it  was  simply  a  quadrilateral  of  walls  of  double  thickness, 
twenty-five  yards  high,  with  arched  or  casemated  terreplains,  and  a 
bastion  in  each  angle,  the  whole  encompassed  by  a  foss.  In  subse 
quent  years,  it  has  suffered  various  reforms,  but  still  is  of  the  general 
form  as  when  first  erected. 

The  portcullis  and  the  barracks  of  the  troops  were  erected  in  1718 
by  Don  Guazo,  the  then  Governor-General.  De  Soto's  wife,  it  is  said, 
died  here,  after  waiting  many  years  for  news  of  her  gallant  husband. 
The  statue  on  the  top  of  the  castle  is  that  of  an  Indian,  who  (so  runs 
the  legend)  was  the  first  to  receive  Columbus  on  landing.  Opposite 
is  the  public  square,  known  as  the  Plaza  de  Armas,  and  on  the  west 
side  of  that  is  the  residence  of  the  Captain-General  of  the  Island. 
The  large  building  adjoining  the  squaie  of  La  Fuerza  is  the  head 
quarters  of  the  military  governor  of  the  city,  the  official  who  grants 
permission  to  visit  the  Morro  Castle  and  Cabanas,  at  the  written 
request  of  the  consul. 

The  sentries  and    guards  on  duty  are  worth*'  of  a  little  attention 


FAMOUS    LOCALITIES   AND    BUILDINGS.          403 

from  those  fond  of  military  matters.  They  are  generally  picked  men, 
whose  "get  up7'  is  quite  unimpeachable  when  on  duty  during  the 
day,  being  clad  in  a  uniform  of  pure  white,  with  trappings,  "  neat  and 
gay  "  of  red  cloth,  and  who,  in  their  comfortable  linens,  look  "  natty  " 
and  soldierly. 

Passing  around  the  square  to  the  lower  or  east  side,  we  come  to 
what  is  known  as  "  El  Templete "  (little  temple),  at  the  corner  of 
Ena  Street.  Tradition  relates  that  in  1519,  on  the  removal  of  the 
city  to  its  present  site,  there  was  celebrated  under  an  old  ceiba  tree 
the  first  mass  in  commemoration  of  this  event ;  and  upon  this  same 
spot  was  erected,  in  1828,  the  present  temple  to  perpetuate  it.  It  is 
a  substantial  stone  building,  not  very  large,  erected  in  imitation  of  a 
Grecian  temple,  with  a  portico  and  pillars,  standing  some  distance 
back  from  the  street,  from  which  it  is  protected  by  iron  railings  con 
nected  with  heavy  stone  columns,  the  whole  resting  upon  a  solid 
base  of  stone.  Within  this  railing  stands  the  stone  column  that 
marks  the  spot  where  the  old  tree  grew. 

A  Celebrated  Hostelry. 

As  we  enter  the  square  of  San  Francisco,  the  old  yellow  building 
at  the  left-hand  corner  is  the  former  "  Hotel  Almy,"  probably  one  of 
the  most  celebrated  in  its  day  of  any  in  the  city.  It  was  there  that. 
Dr.  Kane,  the  arctic  explorer,  died,  the  hotel  occupying  the  second 
story  over  the  warehouse.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  Plaza,  the 
antique,  worn-looking  building  is  the  old  church  of  San  Francisco, 
which  has  had  its  formerly  sacred  halls  turned  into  a  custom-house 
store-room.  This  old  church,  it  is  said,  was  in  its  day  the  best 
church  in  the  city.  It  was  consecrated  in  1737,  and  shut  in  1843. 
Its  tower  to-day  is  the  most  elevated  one  in  the  city,  the  immense 
weight  of  which  is  supported  upon  the  arches  of  the  principal  door 
way. 

It  is  a  singular-looking  old  building,  and  has  undergone  some 
changes  since  its  occupation  for  business  purposes.  The  towers  have 
been  despoiled  of  their  bells,  and  an  additional  door  knocked  in  its 
side.  The  front  of  the  church,  in  the  narrow  street  Officios,  cannot 


404          FAMOUS   LOCALITIES   AND   BUILDINGS. 

be  seen  to  advantage ;  but  in  the  niches,  of  which  there  are  two,  one 
on  each  side  of  the  front,  there  are  queer  old  statues,  in  stone,  of 
monks,  one  of  whom,  from  his  peculiarity  of  attire,  is  readily  per 
ceived  to  be  a  Franciscan. 

As  one  looks  at  these  hard  old  boys,  that  have  stood  here  for  so 
many  ages,  he  is  struck  with  the  thought  of  what  capital  sentries  they 
have  made.  Posted,  each  one  of  them  in  his  niche,  like  a  sentinel  in 
his  sentry-box,  they  have  stood  here,  doing  that  which  they  were 
placed  here  to  do,  without  any  relief  ever  passing  around  in  so  many 
years  to  make  a  change  for  them. 

"  These  Stolid  Old  Fellows." 

There  they  have  stood,  year  after  year — aye,  scores  upon  scores  of 
years,  too — and  seen  these  portals,  that  once  swung  back  only  for  the 
entrance  of  the  devout  and  prayerful,  open  for  the  entrance  of  the 
worldly,  with  their  bales  of  goods  ;  there,  calm  and  immovable,  they 
have  seen  the  busy  throngs  of  ages  past  go  by,  and  yet  still  they 
stand  impassive  and  inanimate  as  in  days  of  yore,  as  the  busy  throng 
of  to-day  still  goes  by,  many  of  whom,  throwing  but  a  casual  glance 
at  these  stolid  old  fellows,  perhaps  know  not,  and  care  less,  that  this 
was  the  first  place  where  their  mothers'  mothers  knelt  and  prayed. 

Though  the  world  has  changed,  though  governor  after  governor 
has  come  and  gone,  though  the  small  group  of  houses  that  once  was 
the  original  town  has  grown  into  a  vast  assemblage  of  what  is  now  a 
fine  city,  though  other  churches  have  been  erected — aye,  even  amid 
the  roar  of  the  tempest  and  the  lashing  of  the  stormy  waves  which  in 
the  wild  fury  of  a  tropical  storm  have  dashed  almost  to  their  very 
feet — there  they  stand  still,  not  a  muscle  changed  or  a  position 
altered  since  they  were  first  posted  in  their  stony  guard-houses,  on 
guard. 

Passing  through  the  handsome  iron  gateway  which  separates  the 
square  from  the  quay,  you  enter  upon  the  landing,  known  as  the 
"  Caballeria,"  being  a  portion  of  the  continuous  wharves  that  extend 
from  the  Castillo  La  Fuerza  to  the  marine  barracks  and  quarters,  and 
the  whole  of  which  is  devoted  to  shipping  purposes.  Here,  any 


FAMOUS    LOCALITIES   AND    BUILDINGS.          405 

morning,  you  will  find  a  busy  throng  of  merchants,  clerks,  etc.,  talk 
ing,  and  smoking,  and  driving  their  bargains — for  this  is,  in  fact,  the 
Exchange — while  the  active  portion  of  the  business  is  done  by 
sturdy  negroes  and  swarthy  laborers  of  many  climes. 

The  whole  series  of  quays  is  covered  so  completely  with  roofs  that 
one  may  walk  a  considerable  distance  free  from  exposure  to  the  sun, 
amusing  oneself  in  examining  the  variety  of  vessels — of  which  there 
are  crowds,  side  by  side — from  every  nation  in  the  world. 

In  this  ocean-loving  city  of  Havana,  boatmen  take  the  place  of  the 
persistent  cabmen  who  assail  one  the  moment  of  coming  from  a 
depot.  Here,  the  moment  you  put  your  foot  upon  the  quay,  every 
boatman  imagines  you  must  want  a  boat,  and  a  crowd  gathers  round 
you  immediately,  each  vociferating  the  name  of  his  boat,  and  you 
have  considerable  difficulty  in  getting  away  from  the  swarthy,  pirati 
cal-looking  fellows  who  cease  not  to  accost  you  with — "  Quiere  bote, 
Senor?"  all  desirous  of  securing  you  for  a  paseo  on  the  water. 

A  Gorgeous  Boat. 

And  now  we  are  catching  the  s  fresh  breezes  from  the  bay  on  the 
Quay  de  Machina,  or  machine  wharf,  which  is  the  landing  used  for 
the  men-of-war,  and  is,  in  fact,  a  naval  storehouse  on  a  small  scale. 
The  objects  that  will  probably  interest  the  stranger  here  are  the  state 
barge  of  the  Captain-General,  a  very  large  and  gorgeous  affair  of  a 
boat,  as  also  the  very  diminutive  garden,  about  the  dimensions  of  a 
good-sized  parlor,  seeming  to  be  made  simply  to  see  how  small  a 
garden  can  be. 

It  is  quite  pretty,  though,  with  miniature  walks,  shrubbery,  and 
flowers,  and  also  a  fountain  containing  gold  arid  silver  fish,  the  whole 
affair  being  surrounded  by  an  iron  railing,  and  guarded  by  some 
nautical  individual,  who  takes  great  delight  in  showing  you  through, 
particularly  if  one  tips  him  a  trifle. 

Just  beyond  the  quay  of  the  Machina  are  the  ferries  for  crossing 
over  the  bay  to  the  little  village  of  Regla,  where  are  the  wonderfully 
large  storehouses  for  storing  the  sugar;  also,  the  depot  of  the 
railroad  for  Matanzas  and  for  Guanabacoa. 


406  FAMOUS   LOCALITIES   AND   BUILDINGS. 

The  boats  run  every  five  minutes  to  the  other  side,  the  fare  upon 
which  is  ten  cents  each  way.  They  are  exceedingly  well-built  boats, 
having  all  been  made  in  the  United  States  (as  in  fact  are  nearly  all 
the  steamboats  in  Cuban  waters),  and  are  kept  in  very  good  order, 
more  so  than  most  of  our  ferry  lines.  If  one  has  nothing  better  to 
do  of  a  morning,  it  is  quite  a  refreshing  trip  to  go  and  return  on  one 
of  these  boats,  since  there  is  a  fine  view  of  the  different  portions  of 
the  bay,  the  shipping  and  the  city;  add  to  which  there  is  always  a 
fine  breeze  felt  on  them  when  in  motion. 

Stretching  from  these  ferries,  almost  continuously,  are  what  are 
known  as  paseos,  or  promenades.  They  are  a  species  of  boulevard,  in 
fact,  running  parallel  with  the  bay,  laid  out  in  trees  and  a  well-made 
walk,  with  solid  stone  wall,  erected  at  the  water  side,  and  fountains 
and  stone  benches  scattered  at  intervals  throughout  their  length,  some 
of  the  former  being  very  pretty  and  tasteful  in  their  designs. 

Stone  Fountain  with  Military  Trophies. 

The  first  and  most  imposing  of  these  paseos  is  that  of  the  "  Alameda 
de  Paula,"  erected,  in  1802,  by  the  Marquis-Governor  Someruelos. 
It  is  also  called  Salon  O'Donnell  (after  the  marshal  of  that  name,  who 
was  inspector  of  the  Island),  and  is  situated  between  the  quay  De  Luz 
and  the  bastion  of  "  Paula,"  overlooking  the  bay.  It  has  seats  of 
stone,  trees  on  the  land  side,  and  a  breastwork  on  the  water  side 
formed  of  a  balustrade  composed  of  plaster  concrete,  with  ornaments 
of  the  same,  alternated  by  iron  railings.  In  the  middle  there  is  a 
semi-circular  glorieta,  or  stone  look-out,  furnished  with  seats,  behind 
which  is  a  handsome  stone  fountain,  having  in  its  centre  a  marble 
column  with  military  trophies  and  national  symbols  in  very  good 
taste. 

Next  to  this  one  is  that  of  the  "  Paseo  de  Roncali,"  from  which  one 
has  a  fine  view  of  the  upper  part  of  the  bay,  with  the  castle  of  Atares 
in  the  background,  and  fine  views  of  the  surrounding  country.  This 
is  a  beautiful  place  of  a  moonlight  night  to  get  a  view  of  the  bay,  but 
is  not  much  frequented.  This  castle  of  Atares  that  you  see  in  the 
centre  of  the  bay  is  said  to  be  the  one  where  young  Crittenden  and 


FAMOUS   LOCALITIES   AND    BUILDINGS.          407 

his  fifty  fellow-prisoners — all  young  men  from  the  United  States,  who 
had  come  out  in  the  Lopez  expedition — had  been  captured,  and  were 
there  shot,  being  brought  out,  twelve  at  a  time,  compelled  to  kneel 
down,  six  at  a  time,  in  front  of  the  other  six,  and  thus  were  all 
gradually  murdered. 

Protest  by  the  English  Consul. 

A  noble  story  is  related  of  old  Mr.  Crawford,  the  then  English 
consul,  who,  disgusted  as  every  one  else  was  by  the  inaction  of  our 
consul,  Mr.  Owens,  when  seeing  these  poor  fellows  shot  down,  went 
to  the  authorities,  and  told  them  that  these  massacres  must  cease; 
that,  though  these  men  were  Americans  and  filibusters,  they  were 
yet  human  beings,  belonging  to  the  Anglo-Saxon  race ;  and  that,  if 
the  shooting  did  not  cease,  he  would  throw  the  English  flag  over 
them  on  the  score  of  humanity.  All  honor  to  such  a  noble,  brave 
spirit !  And  we  are  glad  to  say  it  was  appreciated  by  the  Americans 
living  at  the  port  at  the  time,  for  they  presented  him  with  a  handsome 
set  of  silver. 

As  a  matter  of  curiosity,  to  see  what  is  understood  by  a  navy-yard 
in  Juba,  it  is  well  to  pay  the  "Arsenal  "  a  visit,  where  is  at  once  the 
naval  dock,  navy  and  store  yard,  situated  at  the  extreme  southwestern 
corner  of  the  town,  just  outside  the  walls  where  they  commence  at 
the  water  side.  It  is  entered  from  the  city  by  the  Puerta  del  Arsenal, 
and,  with  its  pretty  officers'  quarters  and  green  trees,  looks  quite 
attractive  from  the  outside. 

At  present  it  certainly  does  not  amount  to  a  great  deal,  though  it 
has  ship-houses,  docks,  machine-shops,  and  other  things  peculiar  to 
naval  construction.  In  days  past,  however,  the  arsenal  of  Havana 
was  very  celebrated.  In  1722  they  began  building  vessels  of  war, 
and  quite  a  large  number  were  built ;  and  the  vessels  obtained  such 
a  good  reputation  from  the  excellent  quality  of  wood  used  that  an 
arsenal  was,  in  1728,  regularly  constructed,  and  finished  in  1734. 

Cannon  were  also  cast,  at  one  time,  of  bronze,  the  copper  being 
furnished  on  the  Island  from  the  Cobre  mines  ;  but  everything  in  this 
way  seems  to  be  at  a  stand-still,  the  yard  deserted,  and  no  work  of 


408          FAMOUS   LOCALITIES   AND   BUILDINGS. 

any  important  nature  being  carried  on.  The  dock  is  capable  of  dock 
ing  a  vessel  of  one  thousand  tons,  and  their  engine  is  of  only  twenty 
horse-power.  Everything  is  very  different  from  the  bustle  and  life 
and  extent  of  our  navy-yards. 

Guards  Mounted  at  the  Gates. 

And  now  we  will  finish  up  our  morning  by  returning  by  the  way 
of  "  Los  Ejidos,"  a  street  running  inside  and  parallel  to  the  old  walls. 
Here  were  some  of  the  most  interesting  features  about  Havana,  giv 
ing  it  that  old  air  of  walled  antiquity,  and  offering  some  attractions  to 
the  student  of  history  in  the  events  so  closely  connected  with  their 
construction.  Some  are  still  standing,  in  tolerably  good  order, 
though  they  all  have  a  somewhat  dilapidated  look,  and  are  all  to  be 
torn  down.  A  good  smart  cannonade  would  knock  them  to  pieces 
very  quickly. 

They  are  of  not  much  use  now,  for  they  may  be  said  to  be  in  the 
very  heart  of  the  city,  and  would  be  of  no  avail  in  a  strong  attack 
against  the  city,  as  a  city,  except  as  a  dernier  resort  for  a  small  body 
of  men.  Guards  are,  however,  still  mounted  at  some  of  the  gates, 
and  cannon  yet  frown  from  the  grass-grown  battlements  ;  and  the 
moat,  with  time  and  indifference,  has  become  filled  with  all  manner 
of  structures — even  truck  gardens  being  laid  out  in  some  of  them. 

These  gates  and  walls  used  to  be  of  great  interest  to  most  travelers, 
as  they  were  for  so  many,  many  years,  connected  with  the  history  of 
the  old  city  of  Havana ;  and  though  as  walls  they  no  longer  stand, 
yet  the  expression  has  become  so  familiarized  that  one  still  hears  "  in 
side  the  walls  "  and  "  outside  the  walls  "  freely  used. 

As  portions  of  these  walls  are  still  in  existence,  and  the  trenches 
also,  with  their  nondescript  appearance,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  give 
here  some  historical  facts  pertaining  to  them. 

Some  of  the  gates  were  constructed  with  an  eye  to  architectural 
beauty  originally,  but  are  now  among  the  memories  of  the  past. 
The  best  of  them  was  the  Puerta  de  Tierra,  near  the  Ursulinos  con 
vent,  on  Sol  street,  which  still  looks  well,  and  had  a  somewhat 
imposing  design.  The  gates  of  Monserrate  were  probably  more 


FAMOUS    LOCALITIES   AND    BUILDINGS.          409 

used  than  any  other  of  the  gates,  there  being  two  of  them — one  of 
egress,  and  the  other  ingress,  for  the  busiest  streets  of  Obispo  and 
O'Reilly. 

As  early  as  1589,  under  the  superintendence  of  the  Governor  and 
engineers  Lejada  and  Antonelli,  these  walls  were  traced  out,  destined 
to  take  an  important  part  in  the  defense  of  the  town  from  the 
repeated  attacks  of  the  pirates,  and  have  lasted  nearly  three  centuries. 

If  the  old  adage  be  true,  that  "  the  nearer  the  church  the  farther 
from  God,"  then  we  fear  much  the  people  of  Havana  have  no  hope  of 
future  salvation  ;  for  to  almost  every  square  in  the  old  city,  within 
the  walls,  there  seems  to  be  a  church  of  some  kind,  to  many  of  which 
are  attached  religious  societies  or  organizations. 

Priests  with  Three-cornered  Hats. 

The  priesthood  and  the  church  have  probably  a  greater  share  in 
the  life  of  the  Cubans,  particularly  with  the  female  portion,  than  any 
thing  else  that  goes  to  make  up  the  sum  of  their  simple  daily  life ; 
and  as  one  strolls  along  the  street,  he  is  met  at  almost  every  turn  by 
some  priest  of  some  particular  order,  either  in  shovel  or  three-cor 
nered  hats,  or,  perhaps,  like  a  stout  old  Franciscan — whose  vows 
prevent  him  from  having  anything  comfortable  in  this  world — forced 
by  the  heat  of  the  sun  to  forget  his  resolution  of  baring  his  head  to 
the  elements,  and  sporting  an  enormous  palm-leaf,  that  answers  the 
purposes  of  both  hat  and  umbrella. 

The  superior  authority  of  the  secular  portion  of  the  Cuban  Church 
is  the  Captain-General,  as  Vice  Royal  Patron,  and  as  his  deputy  in 
the  Arch-bishopric  of  Cuba,  the  Commanding  General  of  the  Eastern 
Department.  There  are  attached  to  the  church  a  number  of  digni 
taries  of  different  grades,  all  drawing  salaries  in  proportion  to  their 
rank ;  while  the  government  of  the  church  is  divided  into  four 
vicarages  and  forty-one  parishes,  the  grand  Cathedral  being  situated 
in  the  town  of  Santiago  de  Cuba.  Besides  the  churches  actual, 
there  are  a  number  of  convents,  monasteries,  etc.,  belonging  to  the 
different  orders  of  St.  Domingo,  San  Francisco,  Jesuits,  San  Agus- 
tin,  etc.,  etc. 


410          FAMOUS   LOCALITIES   AND    BUILDINGS, 

The  Cuban  Church,  in  comparison  with  that  of  other  countries,  is 
said  to  be  poor,  especially  in  the  Arch-bishopric,  the  temples  needing 
the  magnificence  and  those  church  ornaments  that  the  traveler  on  the 
continent  of  Europe  admires  so  much.  Notwithstanding,  in  some 
of  the  principal  towns  there  are  a  few  imposing  structures,  interest 
ing  from  their  great  antiquity  and  ancient  style  of  architecture,  while 
upon  special  occasions  the  services  carried  on  are  tolerably  rich  and 
imposing. 

The  first  church  that  the  traveler  from  any  land  (and  particularly 
we  Americans)  will  desire  to  visit,  is  the  Cathedral,  not  from  any 
great  beauty  of  itself — though  it  is  perhaps  the  most  interesting 
church  edifice  in  the  city  of  Havana — but  since  within  its  walls  lies 
ensconced  beneath  a  simple  slab  all  that  remains  of  him  who  gave 
to  the  world,  from  his  combined  wisdom  and  courage,  not  only  a. 
new  continent,  but  also  a  new  theory  of  a  world — Columbus. 

Magnificent  Old  Church. 

This  old  church,  now  the  most  magnificent  one  in  the  city,  is  very 
odd  indeed,  seen  from  the  outside.  Constructed  of  a  peculiar  col 
ored  brown  stone,  now  blackened  by  age,  it  has  no  great  beauty  in  its 
exterior  architectural  design;  but  yet,  with  its  two  queer  old  towers, 
its  fa9ade  of  pillars,  niches,  cornices,  and  mouldings,  it  is  a  striking 
looking  edifice.  It  was  erected  in  1724,  for  a  college  of  Jesuits,  who 
at  the  time  occupied  the  site  where  now  is  the  Palace  of  the  Captain- 
General.  It  is  composed  of  the  church  edifice  itself  and  the  capa 
cious  buildings  adjoining  for  the  use  of  the  priests  of  the  order. 

It  was,  in  November,  1789,  constituted  into  a  cathedral;  has  one 
large  doorway  in  the  centre,  and  two  smaller  ones,  one  on  each  side 
of  that,  with  a  solid  stone  piazza,  reached  by  short  flights  of  stone 
steps,  at  its  front.  There  is  also  a  side  entrance  by  means  of  a  stone 
court,  on  the  other  side  of  which  are  the  dormitories  of  the  priests. 

The  church  is  shown  to  strangers  at  any  hour  of  the  day,  by  in 
quiring  of  any  of  the  priests  you  meet  in  the  courtyard,  and  it  is  also 
open  every  morning  and  evening  for  Mass;  though  it  is  best  seen  in 
the  morning,  when  the  soft  sunlight  comes  into  the  building,  giving 


FAMOUS  LOCALITIES  AND   BUILDINGS. 


411 


good  effect  to  the  shadows  and  shades  of  the  massive  pillars  and 
arches ;  while  the  kneeling  devotees  serve  to  illustrate  the  great  size 
of  the  structure  by  comparison. 

The  grand  altar  is  very  handsome,  as  is  also  the  choir  in  the  rear. 
The  carving  of  the  stalls  is  exceedingly  fine,  being  done  in  polished 
mahogany,  in  very  light  and  graceful  designs.  At  intervals  around 
the  church  are  several  very  beautiful  al 
tars,  formed  with  solid  pillars  of  mahoga 
ny  and  cornices  and  moulding  of  the  same 
material,  richly  gilt  upon  the  most  promi 
nent  parts.  Each  one  of  these  altars  is 
devoted  to  some  particular  saint,  and 
boasts  of  some  very  good  altar-pieces, 
copies  of  Raphael,  Murillo,  etc. 

The  grand  object  of  interest,  however, 
is  the  "  Tomb  of  Columbus ;  "  and  it  is 
astonishing  how  many  people  there  are 
who  come  to  Havanathat  are  ignorant  of 
the  remains  of  Columbus  being  in  the 
precinsts  of  Havana — having  been  trans 
ferred  from  the  place  of  his  death. 

History  tells  us  that  Columbus  died  in  Valladolid,  Spain,  on 
Ascension-day,  the  2Oth  of  May,  1506;  that  his  body  was  deposited 
in  the  convent  of  San  Francisco,  and  his  obsequies  celebrated  wth 
funeral  pomp  in  that  city.  His  remains  were  afterwards  transported, 
in  1513,  to  the  Carthusian  Monastery  of  Seville,  known  as  "  Las 
Cuevas,"  where  they  erected  a  handsome  monument  to  him,  by  com 
mand  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  with  the  simple  inscription,  borne 
upon  his  shield,  of — 

A  CASTILE  Y  LEON, 

NUEVO  MUNDO  DIO  COLON. 

In  the  year  1536,  his  body  and  that  of  his  son  Diego  were  re 
moved  to  the  city  of  St.  Domingo,  in  the  Island  of  Hayti,  and  in 
terred  at  the  principal  chapel.  But  they  were  not  permitted  to  rest 


TOMB    OF   COLUMBUS. 


412          FAMOUS   LOCALITIES   AND    BUILDINGS. 

even  there ;  for,  on  the  1 5th  of  January,  1796,  they  were  brought  to 
Havana,  and  interred  in  their  present  tomb,  amidst  grand  and  impos 
ing  ceremonies,  participated  in  by  the  army,  navy,  and  church  officials, 
and  an  immense  concourse  of  spectators.  To  use  the  words  of  a 
Spanish  author:  "Havana  wept  with  joy,  admiration,  and  gratitude 
at  seeing  enter  within  its  precincts,  in  order  to  guard  them  forever, 
the  ashes  of  Cristobal  Colon." 

The  ashes,  it  is  understood,  were  deposited  in  an  urn,  which  was 
placed  in  a  niche  in  the  wall,  at  the  entrance  and  to  the  left  of  the 
chancel  of  the  cathedral.  Over  this  has  been  placed  a  slab  of  stone, 
elaborately  carved,  in  a  stone  frame,  and  representing  the  bust  of 
Columbus  in  the  costume  of  the  time,  a  wreath  of  laurel  around  his 
head,  and  symbolical  emblems  at  the  foot  of  the  medallion,  upon 
which  is  inscribed,  in  Castilian  : 

"Oh,  rest  them,  image  of  the  great  Colon, 
Thousand  centuries  remain,  guarded  in  the  urn, 
And  in  the  remembrance  of  our  nation.'' 

Well  may  the  question  be  asked  :  Where,  then,  were  all  the  muses 
when  they  inscribed  such  lines  as  these  ? 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 
Celebrated  Avenues  and  Gardens. 

FOR  a  simple  drive  outside  the  walls,  on  the  Paseo,  in  order  to 
see  and  be  seen,  the  afternoon  hour  of  five  or  six  o'clock  is 
decidedly  the  best ;  but  for  combining  pleasure  with  the  busi 
ness  of  sight-seeing,  the  cool,  breezy  hours  of  early  morning  are  best, 
even  though  one  does  not  then  expect  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the 
bright-eyed  occupants  of  the  elegant  quitrin  on  his  journey. 

The  driver  is  directed  to  start  irom  the  end  of  the  Prado,  which 
opens  directly  upon  the  sea,  with  the  Morro  Castle  opposite,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  entrance,  while  close  at  hand  is  the  queer  old  fort 
of  La  Punta,  originally  a  bastioned,  star-shaped  fort,  now  somewhat 
rambling  in  its  form.  This  is,  also,  one  of  the  antiquities  of  Havana; 
for  on  the  very  spot  where  it  now  stands  landed  the  pirate,  Robert 
Baal,  when  he  attacked  and  burned  the  city,  in  1543.  San  Salvador 
de  la  Punta,  which  is  its  original  name,  was  begun  at  the  same  time 
as  the  Morro,  and  by  the  same  engineers,  in  1-589,  and  finished  in  1597- 

To  the  left  of  the  Prado,  directly  on  the  sea,  can  be  seen  the  various 
sea  baths.  Now  facing  toward  the  city,  we  begin  our  journey  down 
the  street  Prado,  or  Paseo  Isabel,  a  wide,  capacious  street,  arranged 
as  a  boulevard,  with  rows  of  trees  in  the  centre,  beneath  which  are, 
at  intervals,  stone  seats,  and  a  promenade  for  foot-passengers,  and  on 
each  side  of  this,  again,  the  drives  for  carriages.  The  sides  of  the 
street  are  occupied  by  rows  of  fine  buildings — private  dwellings, 
many  of  them — with  pillared  porticoes,  and  tasty  fronts  of  white  or 
blue.  This  drive  was  first  begun  in  17/1,  and  in  1772  was  first 
opened.  In  1/97,  under  Santa  Clara,  it  was  extended,  and  several 
fountains  erected  upon  it,  and  in  Tacon's  administration  it  received 
some  improvements. 

After  leaving  the  Punta,  the  first  building  that  we  notice  is  the 

41! 


414        CELEBRATED 'AVENUES   AND   GARDENS. 

large  yellow  one  to  the  left  hand,  occupying  a  whole  square.  It  is 
the  Royal  Prison,  and  general  headquarters  of  the  council — singular 
combination — the  front  on  the  Paseo  being  used  as  quarters  and 
offices,  while  the  rear  part,  facing  towards  the  walls,  is  the  public 
prison  for  malefactors. 

This  was  also  erected  in  17/1,  and  is  in  the  form  of  a  hollow  square, 
the  courtyard  of  which  is  used  by  the  prisoners  for  exercise ;  and 
they  can  be  seen  any  day  through  the  iron-grated  gates  or  windows 
as  well  also  as  much  of  the  prison  as  one  wants  to  see.  The  student 
of  physiognomy  will  find  some  interesting  subjects  at  these  windows 
any  day,  about  twelve  o'clock,  when  the  prisoners  are  sometimes 
allowed  to  receive,  through  the  gratings,  packages  from  their  friends, 
being  first  inspected  by  the  sentries  always  on  guard  in  the  narrow, 
barred  passages  which  separate  the  outer  and  inner  world. 

Where  Lopez  Met  his  Death. 

The  large  open  space  beside  the  dungeon  is  used  as  a  parade- 
ground;  and  it  was  here  that  the  unfortunate  Lopez  met  his  death, 
dying  like  a  brave  man,  after  the  unfortunate  expedition,  which, 
induced  by  the  promises  of  the  Creoles,  he  had  conducted  to  Cuba, 
and  in  which  he  was  defeated.  Here,  as  already  stated,  in  the  {  res- 
ence  of  a  vast  body  of  troops,  on  the  1st  of  September,  1851,  he  was 
garroted,  his  last  words  being :  "  I  die  for  my  beloved  Cuba."  '  . 

Scattered  along  the  Paseo,  at  different  intervals,  are  various  foun 
tains  of  stone  and  marble,  many  of  them  of  very  handsome  des.'gn, 
and  a  few  cf  them  of  some  antiquity,  though  nearly  all  of  them 
appear  to  be  d;y.  On  the  right-hand  side  of  the  Prado  is  the  Gym 
nasium  and  Fencing  School,  where  is  the  best  gymnasium  in  the  city, 
with  a  very  excellent  instructor  in  calisthenics  and  dumb-bell  exer 
cise,  as  well  also  as  a  good  French  master-at-arms.  The  Cubans 
are,  many  of  them,  very  fine  gymnasts;  and  of  a  morning,  from  seven 
to  nine,  there  is  generally  a  very  good  class  exercising  under  the 
supervision  of  the  instructor. 

To  the  left  is  the  theatre  of  Villa  Nueva,  a  rather  poor  affair,  and 
used  mostly  as  a  French  theatre,  or  for  the  smaller  Spanish  dramatic 


CELEBRATED   AVENUES   AND    GARDENS.        415 

companies.  It  is  built  of  wood,  principally,  and  never  seems  to  be 
well  filled.  It  has  now  become  a  historical  place,  from  the  fact  that 
it  was  here  the  troops  fired  on  the  audience  while  attending  a  repre 
sentation,  during  the  ten  years'  war. 

On  the  Prado,  opposite  the  gates  of  Monserrate,  is  what  is  known 
as  the  "  Parque  de  Isabel,"  a  portion  of  the  street  being  laid  out  with 
grass-plots,  gravel-walks,  trees,  and  handsome  iron  settees,  while  in 
the  centre  is  a  marble  statue  of  Isabel  II. 

The  Field  of  Mars. 

On  the  Paseo  is  the  large  square  known  as  the  "  Campo  de  Marte," 
or  field  of  Mars,  where  the  troops  are  generally  in  the  habit  of  exer 
cising  early  in  the  morning,  or  during  the  winter  about  two  o'clock 
in  the  day.  It  is  a  square  somewhat  in  the  form  of  a  trapezium,  with 
its  longest  side  about  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  yards  in  length, 
and  surrounded  by  an  iron  railing  upon  a  base  of  stone,  combined 
with  pillars  of  stone  at  regular  intervals,  and  upon  the  top  of  each 
one  of  which  is  an  iron  bomb-shell,  of  large  size,  by  way  of  orna 
ments. 

It  has  four  principal  entrances,  closed  by  iron  gates,  upon  the  top 
of  the  posts  of  which  are  placed  bronze  mortars ;  and  as  the  columns 
are  large  and  well  built,  the  gates  have  a  good  effect.  They  are 
called  after  the  distinguished  men  who  bore  the  names  of  Colon, 
Cortes,  Pizarro,  and  Tacon,  the  latter  being  the  founder  of  the  square, 
which  at  various  times  has  suffered  considerable  damage  from  the 
tornadoes.  It  is  now  repaired  and  beautified. 

Directly  opposite  the  square,  in  the  centre  of  the  Paseo,  is  the 
beautiful  Glorieta,  and  fountain  of  India,  surrounded  by  noble palmas 
reales.  The  fountain  is  a  work  of  considerable  beauty,  carved  out 
of  Carrara  marble,  and  erected  at  the  expense  of  the  Count  of  Villa 
Nueva.  It  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  public  fountains,  and 
does  equal  credit  to  the  taste  and  heart  of  the  patriotic  citizen  who 
erected  it. 

Nearly  opposite  the  fountain,  on  a  small  paseo  leading  from  the 
Prado.  is  the  Circus,  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  Campo  de  Marte 


416         CELEBRATED   AVENUES   AND   GARDENS. 

is  the  magnificent  private  residence,  or  in  fact  palace,  of  the  Aldama 
family,  which  was  one  of  the  richest  in  Cuba,  and  owned  a  number 
of  the  finest  sugar  estates  in  the  Island,  but  since  confiscated,  owing 
to  the  family  having  interested  themselves  in  the  rebellion  of  1868. 

The  Queen's  Street  is  a  fine  wide  street,  upon  which  there  is  gen 
erally  seen  more  life  of  an  afternoon  than  on  any  other,  although  on 
some  portions  of  it  the  buildings  are  not  so  fine  as  in  the  other 
streets.  At  its  junction  with  the  Paseo  Tacon,  there  commences  one 
of  the  prettiest  drives  about  the  city,  having  double  rows  of  trees, 
with  a  promenade  for  foot  passengers,  and  a  fine,  wide  carriage-drive, 
which  is  the  fashionable  one  of  an  afternoon,  and  where  splendid 
equipages  may  be  seen  to  advantage.  At  different  intervals  along 
this  Paseo  there  are  fountains  erected,  statues,  and  glorietas  ;  and  of 
a  fine  day,  with  its  beautiful  women,  elegant  equipages,  and  long  rows 
of  shady  trees,  it  presents  a  perspective  and  near  view  perfectly 
charming. 

Beautiful  Botanical  Gardens. 

Nearly  at  the  end  of  the  Paseo  is  a  fine  gateway,  giving  entrance 
to  the  beautiful  gardens  known  as  the  Botanical  Gardens  {Jardin 
Botanico),  and  adjoining  which  are  also  the  beautiful  gardens  belong 
ing  to  the  country  place  (Quintd]  of  the  Captain-General,  known  as 
"  Los  Molinos."  These  are  all  so  very  beautiful  and  interesting  that 
the  stranger  will,  if  he  have  time,  want  to  pay  them  several  visits, 
both  morning  and  evening,  as  they  offer  more  attractions  than  any 
public  place  pertaining  to  Havana.  Even  in  the  middle  of  the  day, 
when  it  is  too  hot  to  go  anywhere  else,  this  is  a  cool,  pleasant,  shady 
place,  in  which  to  pass  the  midday  hours.  They  are  open  day  and 
night,  and  any  one  is  allowed  to  enter  and  stroll  through  the  beauti 
ful  walks,  shaded  and  surrounded  by  most  exquisite  tropical  flowers, 
shrubs,  and  trees. 

Nothing  can  be  more  delightful,  of  a  warm  morning  or  evening, 
than  a  saunter  through  these  magnificent  grounds,  rivaling  in  their 
beauty,  luxuriance,  and  novelty  any  garden  that  we  have  in  the 
United  States.  The  best  plan,  on  a  casual  visit,  is  to  leave  your 
carriage  at  the  entrance  of  the  Botanical  Gardens,  and  direct  the 


CELEBRATED   AVENUES   AND    GARDENS.         417 

driver  to  meet  you  at  the  entrance  to  the  Quinta,  some  distance 
above ;  and  you  can  then,  after  strolling  through  the  gardens,  pass 
into  those  of  the  Captain-General,  and,  enjoying  them,  sally  out  by 
the  magnificent  Avenue  of  Palms  that  leads  from  the  gateway  to  the 
house.  In  the  Botanical  Gardens  there  are  specimens  of  almost  every 
tropical  plant,  and  directly  in  the  centre  is  a  large  stone  basin,  filled 
with  the  finest  water-lilies,  and  in  the  middle  of  that  a  rustic  fountain, 
made  of  shells. 

Lovers'  Romantic  Walk. 

Passing  from  these  gardens,  you  enter  those  belonging  to  the 
Quinta,  which  are  somewhat  larger,  and  contain  some  very  beauti 
ful  walks, — one  of  which,  nearly  one  hundred  yards  long,  is  as  com 
plete  a  lovers'  walk  as  the  most  ardent  pair  could  desire.  It  is 
formed  of  the  rose  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  growing  to  a  good  height, 
and  covered  with  flowers  of  a  light  pink  color,  the  bushes  forming  z, 
handsome  green  and  fragrant  arch  over  the  head  of  the  pedestrian. 

There  is  an  artificial  fountain  or  cascade,  formed,  also,  by  permitting 
the  waters  of  a  small  creek  to  pass  over  artificial  rocks,  which  form 
underneath  a  damp  and,  it  must  be  said,  unattractive  cavern ;  while 
the  waters  are  carried  off  by  a  canal,  upon  the  surface  of  which 
rest  the  pleasure-boats  of  his  Excellency,  the  banks  being  shaded  by 
the  overhanging  trees,  and  inhabited  by  some  curious  breeds  of 
ducks.  An  aviary  or  two  there  are  also,  filled  with  some  species  of 
doves  of  different  kinds,  while  in  the  centre  of  the  gardens  stands 
the  comfortable  house  of  the  Captain-General,,  and  the  buildings  per 
taining  thereto. 

The  avenues  of  palms  in  these  gardens  will  strike  the  visitor  with 
astonishment,  as  something  surpassingly  graceful,  beautiful,  and 
majestic ;  while  he  can  study  to  advantage  the  cocoa  and  plantain 
trees,  with  which  the  gardens  are  filled.  The  whole  place  would 
be  perfect  in  itself,  in  the  way  of  a  garden,  were  it  not  that  it  has  been 
necessary  to  run  a  railroad  through  the  middle  of  it,  the  noise  from 
the  passing  trains  of  which  breaks  at  times  inharmoniously  upon  the 
ear  as  one  saunters  enjoyingly  through  the  fragrant  and  otherwise 
quiet  paths. 


418         CELEBRATED   AVENUES  AND    GARDENS. 

The  gardens  seem  to  be  divided  off  under  different  names,  as  may 
be  seen  by  the  sign-boards,  at  different  places,  designating  the  gar 
dens  of  San  Antonio,  the  Queen,  the  Wood  of  the  Princess.  A 
military  guard  is  in  and  about  the  gardens  all  the  time.  It  has  been 
the  custom  for  the  Captains-General  to  spend  their  summers  here ; 
but  it  having  got  abroad  that  the  place  was  unhealthy,  it  has  not  been 
so  often  occupied  lately,  the  Governors  going  out  to  Marianao  or 
Puentes  Grandes.  Be  that  as  it  may,  it  is  a  lovely  spot  for  the 
stranger,  on  his  winter  visit,  to  stroll  into  and  pass  his  time  agreeably, 
whether  sauntering  through  the  shady  walks  with  some  lady  friend, 
or  smoking  his  fragrant  Havana  beneath  the  stately  palms. 

View  of  the  Surrounding  Country. 

From  these  gardens,  if  the  traveler  is  anxious  for  exercise,  he  can 
mount  up  to  the  fort  upon  the  hill,  known  as  the  "  Principe,"  whence 
there  is  a  good  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  always  provided  the 
sentry  will  allow  him  to  pass.  The  fort  itself  is  small,  though  some 
what  old,  having  been  built,  in  1763,  for  the  protection  of  the  village 
and  bay  of  Chorrera. 

Leaving  now  the  Quinta,  we  have  a  very  pretty  view  of  the  contin 
uation  of  the  Paseo,  with  its  rows  of  trees  that  shade  the  road  so 
nicely,  and  which  have  attained  such  a  luxuriant  growth  that  it 
makes  this,  with  reason,  one  of  the  most  charming  portions  of  the 
afternoon  drive  of  the  Habaneros.  Turning  again  into  a  fine,  wide 
avenue,  known  as  the  "  Calzada  de  la  Infanta,"  we  drive  over  to  a 
long,  handsome  street,  known  as  "  El  Cerro  "  (the  hill),  and  leading 
out  to  a  little  village  of  that  name.  It  is  a  very  handsome  street, 
about  three  miles  long,  lined  on  each  side  with  the  beautiful  and 
comfortable  residences  of  the  fashionable  and  wealthy,  for  whom  this 
with  its  surroundings  is  the  principal  place  of  residence,  particularly 
in  the  summer. 

Here  is  an  ample  field  for  the  study  of  tropic  architecture,  hardly 
any  two  houses  being  alike,  yet  all  with  the  same  general  plan,  very 
different  indeed  from  our  ideas  of  comfort,  and  yet  probably  the  best 
plan  that  can  be  adopted  for  this  climate.  Not  only  on  the  "  Cerro/' 


CELEBRATED   AVENUES   AND    GARDENS.        4U 

but  everywhere  in  the  cities,  is  the  stranger  struck  by  the  peculiari 
ties  of  this  Cuban  architecture,  with  its  enormous  windows,  without  a 
particle  of  glass,  but  grated  with  strong  iron  bars,  the  single  story  of 
height,  the  tremendous  doorways,  their  massive  doors  studded,  many 
of  them,  with  numerous  brass  knobs  and  decorations,  all  bearing  the 
appearance  of  having  been  built  for  defence  from  outside  attack. 

Houses  of  Singular  Construction. 

Upon  the  Cerro,  the  houses  are  modernized  somewhat,  having 
their  stables  and  carriages  in  their  rear,  and  in  front  stone  piazzas, 
elevated  some  distance  above  the  level  of  the  street.  Passages  are 
not  at  all  frequent  in  the  houses,  and  the  principal  entrance  opens 
directly  into  large  and  cool  halls,  which  are  in  fact  rooms  and  fur 
nished  as  such,  laid  with  marble-tiled  floors,  and  connected  with  th? 
rooms  beyond  by  large  archways. 

These  halls  are  usually  the  dining-rooms,  where  always  there  is  a 
breeze  from  the  open  courtyard  or  through  the  wide  sala,  or  parlor, 
at  the  entrance  ;  the  whole  being  devoid  of  curtains,  and  exposed  to 
the  eye  or  curiosity  of  every  passerby.  The  ceilings  are  uncom 
monly  high,  and  the  houses  are,  without  exception,  open  on  the 
interior  side  to  the  patio,  or  courtyard,  which  affords,  even  of  the. 
warmest  days,  a  chance  for  some  air. 

This  patio  takes  with  those  in  the  cities  the  place  of  our  gardens  ; 
all  the  rooms  open  to  it,  and  where  there  is  a  second  story,  a  gallery 
runs  around  the  entire  square,  having  either  blinds  or  fancy-colored 
awnings  for  protection  from  the  sun's  rays,  which  have  full  scope  in 
the  open  centre  of  the  square. 

This  secures  a  free  circulation  of  air,  a  shady  place  in  which  to  sit 
or  walk,  and  very  often,  when  the  patio  is  laid  out  with  walks,  flow 
ers,  fountains,  and  orange,  pomegranate,  or  mignonette  trees,  a 
charming  place  in  which  to  dream  one's  idle  hours  away. 

Here  are  also  to  be  seen  some  superb  specimens  of  the  cactus, 
which    in    Cuba    grows   to   an    immense   size,  and   possesses   great 
strength,  for  a  plant  of  this  kind,  in  its  branches,  some  of  which  will ' 
bear  a  man  seated  on  them.     In  the  trenches  around   Havana  are 


420        CELEBRATED   AVENUES  AND    GARDENS. 

also  other  fine  specimens,  which  have  a  very  odd  appearance  at  times 
from  the  large  quantities  of  fine  dust  that  settle  on  them.  On  out 
return,  we  pass  through  the  "  Calzada  Galiano,"  one  of  the  finest 
streets  in  the  city,  and  always  having  new  charms,  with  its  width,  pil 
lared  porticoes,  and  regular  architecture,  to  say  nothing  of  the  con 
stant  life  there  visible. 

The  great  charm  of  Cuba  for  the  traveler  from  the  United  States  is 
the  entire  change  of  appearance  of  matters  and  things  from  what  he 
is  accustomed  to.  From  the  time  of  landing  at  Havana,  with  one's 
mind  filled  with  the  Spanish  life  as  described  in  Irving's  "  Alhambra  " 
and  "  Granada,"  or  as  written  in  Prescott's  works,  there  is  an 
additional  pleasure  of  seeing,  verified  with  one's  own  eyes,  those 
peculiarities  of  houses,  climate,  and  people,  described  somewhat  in 
those  works. 

Charm  and  Novelty  Everywhere. 

From  the  moment  of  entering  the  bay  of  Havana,  where  one  sees 
the  city  before  him,  with  all  its  oddities  of  colors,  and  shapes,  and 
styles  of  its  walls,  with  an  occasional  palm  or  cocoa  tree  to  give  a 
marked  type  to  its  appearance,  to  the  time  of  turning  his  back  upon 
the  luxuriant  Coffee  Mountains  of  the  east,  or  sugar-cane  clad 
prairies  of  the  valleys,  there  is  one  constant  charm  of  novelty,  and 
very  often  ridiculously  so. 

The  first  thing  that  strikes  the  novice,  in  wandering  through  the 
old  town  of  Havana,  is  the  solidity  of  the  buildings  and  the  narrow 
ness  of  the  streets,  the  smallness  of  the  sidewalks  of  which  will 
cause  him  at  first  some  considerable  annoyance  in  stepping  off  into, 
perhaps,  the  muddy  street,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  the  "  right  of 
way  "  to  some  pedestrian  who  is  keeping  to  the  right,  "  as  the  law 
directs  ; "  or,  when  disgusted  with  the  constant  getting  out  of  the 
way,  he  takes  to  the  middle  of  the  street,  and  is  suddenly  punched 
in  the  ribs  by  the  shafts  of  some  volante,  whose  driver  has  gauged 
his  pulling  up  so  nicely  that  he  just  avoids  running  over  you. 

Then  the  houses,  hardly  ever  more  than  one  story  high — never 
more  than  two — with  their  tremendous  doors  and  windows  ;  when,  if 
the  door  is  open,  you  see  a  handsome  flight  of  stone  steps,  perhaps, 


CELEBRATED   AVENUES   AND    GARDENS.         421 

leading  to  the  upper  story,  the  walls  all  gaily  painted  in  white  and 
blue,  or  yellow ;  the  entrance  probably  taken  up  with  a  gorgeous 
quitrin,  or,  perhaps,  a  handsome  carriage,  according  as  to  whether  the 
family  are  wealthy,  and  occupy  the  whole  house,  or  only  well-off,  and 
keep  the  upper  stories,  renting  out  the  lower  ones,  which  are  probably 
filled  with  merchandise.  Notice,  now,  this  great  door  to  the  large 
and  showy  mansion.  It  is  shut ;  but  see  how  resplendent  it  is  with 
brass  decorations,  latches,  hinges,  door-plates,  or  studded  with 
quaintly-shaped  brass-headed  bolts,  with  shining  handles. 

Is  it  wonderful  that  an  American,  with  his  national  character  for 
impudence,  should  follow  in  the  steps  of  the  courtly  and  stately 
Spaniard,  when  he  sees  a  pair  of  lovely  eyes  peeping  at  him  from 
behind  the  curtain  of  the  barred  window,  and,  doffing  his  hat,  should 
exclaim,  with  antique  gallantry,  "Sefiorita,  I  put  myself  at  your  feet," 
or  "the  surprising  beauty  of  your  lovely  eyes  will  not  permit  .of  my 
passing  by,  Senorita,  without  doing  them  homage  ?  " — grateful  if  he 
is  rewarded,  as  he  always  will  be,  by  bright  glances  from  the  dark- 
haired  damsel,  who,  with  a  stately  smile,  utters  her  "  Gracias  Serior" 
in  return  for  what  she  deems  only  due  tribute. 

Peculiar  Types  of  Character. 

Here's  a  contrast!  Now  mark  that  great  negro,  with  his  ridiculous- 
looking  wheelbarrow,  appearing  as  though  it  had  come  out  of  the 
ark,  such  is  the  simplicity  of  its  construction ;  the  negro  himself, 
without  head-covering,  with  as  little  clothing  as  the  law  allows  (if 
there  is  any  law  in  such  matters),  generally  ragged  pants,  and  a  por 
tion  of  a  shirt  only. 

Here  we  are  in  the  ever-busy  street  O'Reilly,  which,  like  Obispo 
or  Ricla,  one  never  gets  tired  of  wandering  in.  Do  not  imagine  for 
a  moment,  if  you  want  to  find  any  particular  store,  that  you  must 
ask  for  Mr.  Smith's  or  Mr.  Jones's  establishment;  oh,  no, — these 
people  do  not  generally  travel  under  their  own  names ;  but,  like  a 
hotel,  stick  up  something  that  is  unique,  expressive,  or  easily  re 
membered.  As  a  consequence,  you  have  "  The  Nymphs,"  "  The 
Looking  Glass,"  "  The  Little  Isabel,"  the  "  Green  Cross,"  which  you 


422         CELEBRATED   AVENUES  AND   GARDENS. 

see  gets  its  name  from  the  big  Maltese  cross,  built  into  the  wall  of 
that  corner  store,  and  hundreds  of  other  funny,  curious,  and  expres 
sive  names. 

Just  look  down  that  street,  this  hot  February  day.  See  those  fancy- 
colored  awnings,  stretching  across  all  the  way  down,  to  keep  the  warm 
sun  away  from  our  heads  ;  those  handsome  shop  windows,  or  the 
stores  themselves,  in  fact,  with  their  shelves  almost  upon  the  street, 


PINE-APPLE   PLANTATION. 

all  reminding  one  of  the  descriptions  of  Eastern  bazaars,  were  it  not 
that  the  well-dressed  men  that  are  scattered  through  the  non-coated, 
cool-looking  people,  show  the  presence,  in  a  civilized  land,  of  capital 
tailor's  work. 

And  now,  while  intent  upon  the  sights,  you  hear  a  shout  of  "  Cut- 
dado!  cuidado!"  (take  care),  behind  you,  and  jumping  out  of  the 
way,  in  the  expectation  that  your  last  hour  is  come,  you  are  convulsed 
with  laughter  at  the  cause  of  your  alarm,  in  a  most  ridiculously  small 
donkey  pulling  a  big  cart,  while  upon  the  back  of  the  donkey,  per 
haps,  are  piled  a  dozen  folded  blankets  or  cloths  ;  upon,  top  of  which, 
again,  is  a  great  cumbersome  saddle,  big  enough  and  heavy  enough 
for  a  French  cuirassier. 


CELEBRATED   AVENUES   AND   GARDENS.        423 

Poor  little  donkey  !  He  has  just  twice  as  much  load  as  is  neces 
sary  to  carry,  but  the  plucky  little  fellow  goes  sturdily  along  as  if  it 
was  all  right.  Now,  turning  a  corner,  we  are  suddenly  taken  aback 
by  a  negro  girl,  with  a  white  child  in  her  arms,  out  for  an  airing,  we 
suppose,  from  the  nature  of  the  apparel,  which  consists  of  just  the 
amount  of  hair  usually  found  on  the  heads  of  children,  and  which 
probably  the  novice  thinks  is  a  little  too  airy  for  the  public  streets  of 
a  city  like  Havana. 

Only  his  Head  to  be  Seen. 

"  Halloa !  what's  up  now,  in  this  narrow  street  we  are  going 
through  ?  "  you  will  ask,  as,  looking  ahead,  you  see  it  completely 
stopped  up  with  a  mass  of  green  vegetable  matter  that  is  coming 
down  on  you  with  hardly  any  perceptible  propelling  aid ;  however, 
now  it  is  near;  you  descry  the  long-eared  head  of  a  small  donkey, 
or  perhaps  a  Cuban  horse,  almost  buried  under  a  load  of  green  fodder, 
piled  upon  and  beside  him  in  such  manner  that  nothing  is  to  be  seen 
except  the  head  and  feet  of  the  little  fellow,  who,  while  thus  buried, 
has  not  even  the  satisfaction  of  a  quiet  little  chew  of  the  material 
that  surrounds  him,  for  his  mouth  is  muzzled  up  in  a  curiously  netted 
muzzle  of  twine. 

This  fodder  constitutes,  with  corn,  the  only  food  given  to  horses  in 
Havana,  and  is  all  brought  in  from  the  surrounding  country  on  the 
backs  of  mules,  sometimes  ten  or  twelve  in  number,  strung  together 
like  a  lot  of  beads,  head  and  tail.  No  oats  are  raised,  or  grain  of  any 
kind,  in  the  Island,  except  the  small  sweet  ears  of  Indian  corn  which 
is  grown  everywhere,  and  the  stalks  of  which,  with  the  tender  tops  of 
the  sugar-cane,  make  up  the  only  food  to  be  had  for  horses. 

There's  another  fellow  bawling  out  at  this  early  hour  something 
he  calls  "  lechet  leche  ;  "  and  which  we  find  to  be  milk  he  is  carrying 
around  in  those  immense  tin  cans,  stuck  away  in  the  straw  or  palm 
panniers  hanging  over  his  horse's  back,  and  which,  with  the  hot  sun 
and  the  motion,  would  soon  get  churned  to  butter,  or  rather  oil,  the 
Batter  being  the  way  they  use  it  on  the  Island. 

Again   is  heard   a  peculiar  clattering,  as   if  crockery  was  being 


424         CELEBRATED   AVENUES   AND    GARDENS. 

hardly  dealt  with,  and  which  is  found  to  proceed  from  the  hands  of  a 
peripatetic  "  Chinois,"  who  takes  to  the  street  for  a  market  for  his 
wares.  Here  he  is,  now,  a  regular  thorough-going  "  John  China 
man,"  who,  after  having  served  out  his  time  as  a  Coolie  on  perhaps 
some  large  sugar  estate,  has  become  imbued  with  the  ambitious 
desire  of  being  a  merchant,  and  no  longer  remaining  in  his  hard 
working  way  of  life  as  a  "  trabajador  "  in  the  hot  sugar  fields. 

Having  saved  sufficient  money  from  his  hard  earnings,  or,  what  is 
more  likely,  made  his  capital  by  gambling  with  his  more  verdant  and 
less  fortunate  fellows,  he  has  started  in  trade,  with  a  bamboo  yoke 
carried  over  his  shoulders,  and  pendant  from  the  ends  of  which  hang 
two  large,  round  baskets,  filled  with  crockery  of  all  kinds. 

Clad  in  thin,  wide  pantaloons,  a  blue  dungaree  shirt,  with  a  broad 
palm-leaf  hat  on  his  head,  and  his  feet  thrust  into  loose,  heelless 
slippers,  he  perambulates  the  streets,  seeking  to  tempt  the  cautious 
housewife  into  purchasing  something  of  him — not  by  the  dulcet 
sounds  of  his  voice  (which  sounds  like  a  turkey-gobbler),  but  by  the 
insinuating  music  of  the  wares  themselves,  emitted  in  a  peculiar 
sound  and  way  by  the  half-dozen  saucers  he  carries  in  his  hand,  and 
which  he  is  constantly  throwing  up  gently,  and  letting  them  fall  one 
upon  the  other  with  a  sharp,  continuous,  rattling  sound  that  will 
bring  the  indolent  housewife  quickly  to  the  window,  if  she  wants 
anything  in  that  line.  No  danger  of  his  breaking  them  in  this  way 
of  making  himself  known,  for  the  Chinese  are  celebrated  for  their 
sleight  of  hand,  and  this  is  evidence  of  it. 

Now  we  hear  the  fruit-venders  crying  out  their  wares,  as  they 
walk  beside  their  pannier-loaded  horses.  "  Naranjas,  naranjas, 
dulces  "  (oranges,  sweet  oranges),  he  cries  ;  which,  in  the  season  pro 
per  for  them,  you  can  buy  of  him,  the  largest  and  ripest  kind,  for  a 
peseta  (twenty  cents)  the  dozen,  or  less, — as  well  as  other  fruits  of 
the  country.  Although  the  oranges  are  ripe  all  the  year  round,  there 
seems  to  be  a  profusion  of  them  in  the  early  Spring  months,  unless, 
as  is  the  case  some  years,  they  are  somewhat  scarce  from  the  torna 
does  having  destroyed  many  of  the  trees. 

Look  at  this  ridiculous  sight,— that  fellow,  a  poultry-dealer,  going 


CELEBRATED   AVENUES   AND    GARDENS.         425 

up  the  street  there  ahead  of  us,  mounted  upon  his  donkey,  his  feet 
projecting  out  in  front,  while  he  is  high  up  on  the  pack  that  holds  his 
large,  square  panniers  of  chickens,  which  he  has  brought  in  from  the 
country  to  dispose  of,  and  which  he  carries  safely  in  the  baskets, 
corded  over  the  tops  with  a  net  work,  or  more  frequently  a  cloth,  the 
polios  sticking  forth  their  heads  from  time  to  time,  and  doubtless 
wondering,  as  they  keep  up  their  cachinating,  why  their  master  is 
thus  treating  them  to  this  morning's  paseo. 

Now  we  meet  a  "  dulce  "  seller.  As  a  general  thing  they  are  neat- 
looking  mulatto  women,  rather  better  attired  than  most  of  the 
colored  women  one  meets  in  the  street.  They  carry  a  basket  on  the 
arm,  or  perhaps  upon  the  head,  while  in  their  hands  they  have  a 
waiter,  with  all  sorts  of  sweetmeats, — mostly,  however,  the  preserved 
fruits  of  the  country,  and  which  are  very  delicious,  indeed, — much 
affected  by  ladies. 

We  need  not  have  any  hesitation  in  buying  from  these  women,  as 
they  usually  are  sent  out  by  private  families,  the  female  members  of 
which  make  these  dulccs  for  their  living,  the  saleswoman  often  being 
the  only  property  they  own,  and  having  no  other  way  (or,  perhaps, 
too  proud,  if  they  have)  of  gaining  a  livelihood. 

Here  is  something  that  won't  strike  you  quite  so  agreeably.  Did 
you  ever  see  anything  more  disgusting  than  that  great  negro  wench, 
— a  large  clothes-basket  on  her  head,  a  colossal  cigar  sticking  out 
from  between  her  thick  lips,  while  she  walks  along,  majestically 
trailing  an  ill-fitting,  loose  dress  (probably  the  only  article  of  apparel 
she  has  on)  after  her  slip-shod  strides  ?  She  puts  on  airs,  occa 
sionally,  if  you  scold  her  for  spoiling  your  clothes,  that  you  have 
rashly  trusted  her  to  wash  for  you. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
Sugar-making   in   Cuba. 

A  BOOK  on  the  Island  of  Cuba  without  a  chapter  on  sugar-mak 
ing  would  hardly  be  complete.     TG    :he  cultivation   of  the 
cane   is  also  added,  on  the   same  place  where  the  cane  is 
raised,  and  by  the  same  proprietor,  the   manufacture  of  sugar,  such 
places  being  called  in  the  Cuban  dialect  ingenios,  or  sugar  estates,  the 
carrying  on  of  which   requires   a  large  amount  of  capital,  a  great 
degree  of  intelligence,  and  much  mechanical  skill. 

These  ingenios  vary  in  size  from  five  hundred  to  ten  thousand 
acres,  though  the  results  of  their  crops  are  not  always  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  their  acres,  that  depending  more  particularly  upon 
the  nature  of  the  soil  of  the  particular  locality  in  which  they  are  situ 
ated,  and  the  degree  of  intelligence  and  amount  of  labor  with  which 
they  are  worked.  Each  one  of  the  ingemes  is,  in  some  degree,  like  a 
small  village,  or,  as  with  the  larger  ones,  quite  a  town,  in  which  are 
substantial  edifices,  numerous  dwellings,  and  expensive  machinery, 
together  with  a  large  number  of  inhabitants,  the  different  officials 
necessary  for  their  government  and  management  representing  the 
civil  officers,  except  with,  perhaps,  greater  power. 

The  buildings  upon  a  first-class  sugar  estate  are  generally  a  dwell 
ing-house  (casa  de  vivienda\  which,  from  its  size,  style,  and  cost, 
might  sometimes  be  called  a  palace,  some  of  them  having,  in  addition 
to  numerous  other  conveniences,  small  chapels  in  which  to  celebrate 
the  religious  services  of  the  estate,  the  dwelling  being  occupied  by 
the  owner  and  his  family,  if  living  on  the  estate  ;  if  not,  by  the  admin- 
istrador,  who  is  charged  with  the  care  and  management  of  the  estate 
in  the  absence  of  the  owner,  and  who,  in  fact,  may  be  said  to  be  the 
man  of  the  place. 

There  is  also  the  house  occupied  by  the  mayoral,  as  he  is  called 
the  chief  of  the  negro  laborers,  whose  business  it  is  to  follow  the 
426 


SUGAR-MAKING   IN    CUBA.  427 

laborers  to  the  field  to  see  that  they  do  their  work  properly,  and  that 
sufficient  amount  of  cane  is  cut  to  keep  the  mill  constantly  supplied 
with  material  to  grind ;  in  fact  he  has  a  general  supervision  of  all  the 
agricultural  duties  of  the  estate,  receiving  his  orders  only  from  the 
owner  or  administrador ',  as  the  case  may  be.  The  may  or  ales  are  gen 
erally  very  ordinary  men,  of  no  education,  the  intelligence  they  pos 
sess  being  simply  that  gained  by  long  experience  in  this  kind  of 
business. 

The  maqidnista,  or  engineer,  is  really  the  most  important  man 
upon  the  place,  as  upon  him  depend  the  grinding  of  the  cane  and  the 
care  of  the  mill  and  its  machinery — that  it  is  kept  in  good  and  run 
ning  order,  so  that  no  delay  may  take  place  in  the  grinding  season. 
His  quarters  are  generally  in  some  part  of  the  mill,  where  he  man 
ages  to  be  pretty  comfortable. 

American  Engineers. 

These  engineers  are  mostly  young  Americans,  with  now  and  then 
an  Englishman  or  a  German ;  but  the  Americans  are  much  preferred 
on  account  of  their  superior  intelligence  and  assiduous  attention  to 
their  business.  Their  pay  is  from  one  thousand  two  hundred  to  two 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for  the  grinding  season,  which  begins 
about  December  and  ends  nearly  always  in  or  before  June,  most  of 
the  engineers  going  over  to  the  States  to  pass  the  summer,  or,  as 
they  express  it,  "  to  have  a  good  time." 

The  Hospital  is  always  an  important  building  on  these  places,  as  it 
is  the  only  place  where  the  sick  can  be  treated  and  properly  taken 
care  of.  It  is  usually  arranged  with  a  great  deal  of  care  and  neat 
ness,  the  building  being  divided  off  into  different  wards  for  men  and 
women,  and  also  for  contagious  diseases ;  it  is  generally  in  charge  of 
a  hospital  steward,  who  has  quite  an  apothecary  shop  in  his  charge, 
and  who  receives  his  instructions  from  the  attending  physician,  who 
also  attends  a  number  of  the  estates  in  the  same  locality,  visiting  each 
one  generally  every  day,  and  receiving  compensation  at  so  much  per 
year.  As  a  matter  of  simple  economy,  to  say  nothing  of  charity,  the 
invalids  get  the  best  of  treatment,  and  are  not  sent  back  to  work 


428 


SUGAR-MAKING   IN   CUBA. 


until  they  are  completely  restored,  though  while  convalescing  they 
are  required  to  do  light  work,  such  as  making  baskets,  hats,  etc. 

The  Nursery  is  also  quite  an  important  place,  and  is  highly  amus 
ing  to  visit,  for  here  the  future  hopes  of  the  plantation  are  cared  for. 
These  little  black,  naked  sinners,  running  and  tumbling  over  each 
other  in  great  glee,  are  generally  kept  in  a  large  room,  with  rows 
of  cradles  or  cribs  on  each  side,  in  which  each  little  one  is  kept  at 


INTERIOR  OF  A  SUGAR-MILL. 

night,  the  old  women  who  are  too  feeble  to  work  any  longer  being 
retained  as  nurses  in  charge,  while  the  mothers  of  the  little  ones  are 
out  at  work  in  the  fields,  being  allowed,  two  or  three  times  a  day,  to 
return  and  suckle  such  infants  as  need  the  mother's  milk. 

It  is  very  amusing  to  enter  one  of  these  nurseries  when  the  children 
are  being  fed,  and  see  their  gambols  and  antics,  and  the  expression  of 
the  little  ones'  eyes  as  they  see  the  white  master,  as  he  is  called,  and 
with  whom  they  keep  on  friendly  terms,  enter  their  quarters.  They 
all  appear  to  be  happy  and  jolly,  and  make  as  much  noise  and  have 
as  much  fun  as  would  satisfy  any  "  radical "  in  the  States.  Poor 
things,  they  happily  know  nothing  of  the  hard  lot  in  store  for  them. 


SUGAR-MAKING   IN   CUBA.  429 

But  the  most  important  of  all  the  buildings  is,  of  course,  the  Sugar- 
mill,  which  generally  consists  of  the  engine-house,  where  is  all  the 
machinery  and  power  for  grinding,  boiling  and  working  the  cane  and 
juice,  and  the  purging  and  drying-houses.  The  engine-house  is  gen 
erally  an  extremely  large  roof,  supported  by  pillars  and  posts,  and 
entirely  open  on  all  sides — in  fact,  nothing  more  than  a  very  well 
constructed  shed  to  keep  off  the  sun  and  rain,  the  floor  being  mostly 
paved  with  brick,  and  the  stairways  leading  from  one  portion  of  the 
building  to  another  being  of  solid  stone.  In  fact,  one  of  these  mills 
of  the  first  class  is  a  very  handsome  affair — everything  about  it,  the 
engines  and  the  machinery  being  kept  in  the  most  scrupulously  clean 
order,  equal  to  a  man-of-war. 

How  the  Employees  Live. 

On  the  larger  places  there  are  generally  what  are  called  barracoons, 
or  quarters  for  the  workmen.  They  are  large  buildings,  constructed  of 
stone,  in  the  form  of  a  quadrangle,  on  the  inner  side  of  which  are  the 
rooms  for  the  negroes,  to  which  there  is  only  one  main  entrance ; 
this  is  shut  at  night  when  the  hands  are  all  in. 

On  the  outside,  and  much  better  built,  there  are  rooms  occupied 
by  the  different  white  men  connected  with  the  place  and  not  other 
wise  provided  for ;  probably,  also,  a  long  row  of  stables  for  the  many 
horses  usually  kept  upon  places  of  this  kind,  and  of  which  there  is  no 
lack,  either  for  work  or  play. 

On  other  places,  again,  the  negroes  live  in  bohios,  or  huts — some 
few  constructed  of  stone,  but  most  of  them  simply  log  or  cane  huts, 
of  the  most  ordinary  description,  thatched  with  palm-leaf  or  grass, 
and  making  no  attempt  at  comfort,  but  simply  serving  as  shelters 
from  the  rain.  In  the  Southern  States  the  miserable  habitations 
called  cabins  are  bad  enough ;  but  these  are  worse  ;  though,  to  be 
sure,  in  a  climate  like  this  it  does  not  matter  much  about  shelter — 
all  one  wants  is  shade. 

The  Purging-house  is  generally  of  very  great  extent,  being  two 
stones  high,  and  of  great  length.  The  floor  of  the  upper  story  is 
simply  a  series  of  strong  frames,  with  apertures  for  placing  in  them 


430 


SUGAR-MAKING   IN   CUBA. 


the  Iwrmas,  funnel-shaped  cylinders  of  tin  or  sheet- iron,  into  which 
is  put  the  molasses  to  drain  into  troughs  beneath.  One  side  of  this 
house  is  open,  in  order  to  permit  the  gavetas,  or  large  boxes  upon 
wheels,  into  which  are  put  the  forms  of  sugar,  to  be  run  in  and  out 
conveniently.  In  these  boxes,  which  are  immensely  large,  the  sugar 


SECTION  OF   PURGING-HOUSE. 

in  forms  is  broken  up  and  exposed  to  the  air  and  sun,  for  the  purpose 
of  thoroughly  drying  it. 

The  number  of  these  hormas  is  something  wonderful,  there  being  in 
some  of  the  houses  as  many  as  twenty  thousand.  Beneath  the  upper 
floor  are  a  number  of  troughs,  each  trough  having  a  slant  to  a  main 
trough.  Over  the  minor  troughs  are  the  mouths  of  the  aforesaid 
funnels,  which  permit  the  molasses  draining  from  the  pans  of  sugar 
above  to  run  into  the  troughs,  which  again  convey  it  to  large  vats  or 
hogsheads,  called  bocoyes,  each  of  which  holds  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
hundred  gallons.  It  is  in  this  process  that  they  make  the  distinction 
of  the  different  sugars — bianco,  or  white ;  quebrado,  or  broken ;  and 
the  common,  dark-colored  sugar  called  Cucurucho* 


SUGAR-MAKING   IN   CUBA.  431 

In  making  these  three  qualities  of  sugar,  a  layer  of  moist  earth  or 
clay  is  placed  upon  the  top  of  the  pans  of  crystallized  syrup,  from 
which  the  moisture,  draining  constantly  through,  carries  off  all  the 
imperfections,  leaving  the  pans  full  of  dry  sugar  in  the  form  of  solid 
cases,  and  generally  of  three  colors  ;  that  nearest  the  top,  pure  white; 
next  below  that,  the  discolored ;  and  at  the  bottom  of  that,  the  moist 
or  dark  colored. 

If,  however,  it  is  desired  to  make  only  a  moscabado  sugar,  which  is 
of  a  rich  brown  color,  and  does  not  require  the  same  time  or  pains 
as  the  finer  qualities,  the  syrup  is  simply  put  in  the  large  hogsheads, 
before  described,  and  allowed  to  drain  off  in  the  natural  way  without 
the  process  of  "  claying  "  it,  as  it  is  called.  This,  of  course,  makes 
more  sugar  of  an  average  inferior  grade,  which  weighs  more,  having 
the  molasses  in  it ;  and  this  is  the  sugar  generally  preferred  by  sugar 
refiners. 

Various  Workshops. 

Besides  the  above,  other  buildings  there  are,  of  different  kinds, 
necessary  to  large  establishments  like  these,  such  as  cooper,  carpen 
ter,  and  blacksmith  shops;  while  there  are  also,  on  the  best  estates, 
gas  works,  at  which  is  manufactured  the  gas  with  which  the  mill  and 
buildings  are  illuminated,  it  being  found  much  cheaper  and  cleaner 
to  manufacture  and  use  gas  than  oil. 

Of  the  persons  directly  in  charge  of  making  the  sugar  there  are 
one  or  two  upon  each  place  whose  business  it  is  to  see  to  the  boiling 
and  refining  of  the  sugar,  and  who  are  known  as  sugar-makers, 
receiving  for  their  services  from  eight  hundred  to  one  thousand 
dollars  each  per  annum. 

It  is  calculated  that  to  every  one  thousand  boxes  of  sugar,  con 
sisting  of  four  hundred  pounds  each,  it  is  necessary  to  have  from 
fifty  to  seventy-five  hands;  for,  of  course,  the  greater  supply  of  labor 
there  is,  the  better  are  the  chances  of  making  the  sugar  of  superior 
quality.  Of  these  laborers  the  larger  proportion  are  negroes,  while 
upon  nearly  every  place  there  are  more  or  less  Chinese  or  Coolies, 
all  of  whom  are  divided  into  classes  and  divisions,  according  to  the 
labor  for  which  they  are  desired. 


432  SUGAR-MAKING   IN   CUBA. 

Guardianes,  or  guardians,  are  stationed  in  smart  huts  at  the  entrances 
to  the  estates,  and  act  as  porters,  though  their  lodges  are  nothing 
more,  usually,  than  a  simple  shelter  hut,  of  grass  or  palm-leaf,  the 
occupants  being  generally  old  men  unfit  for  hard  labor.  Firemen 
attend  to  keeping  up  the  furnace  fires,  which  are  generally  placed  in 
a  cavity,  or  sort  of  cellar  in  the  ground,  upon  one  side  of  the  mill 
there  being  left  a  large  space  in  front  of  the  furnaces  into  which  the 
carts,  upon  backing  up  to  its  edge,  empty  their  loads  of  mashed 
cane,  the  only  fuel  used  to  generate  steam.  These  carts  are  rude, 
rough  affairs,  invariably  drawn  by  either  one  or  two  yoke  of  oxen. 

The  Bill  of  Fare. 

The  bulk  of  the  hands  used  in  the  general  operations  of  the  place, 
cutting  cane,  plowing,  etc.,  are  known  as  the  gente,  or  "people." 
They  are  pretty  well  taken  care  of  as  regards  food,  at  least  in  quantity 
if  not  in  quality ;  they  get  tasajo,  or  dried  beef,  boniatos,  or  sweet 
potatoes,  rice,  and  plantains  which  answer  for  bread,  and  of  which 
they  are  very  fond,  eating  them  either  roasted  or  fried. 

The  clothing  they  wear  is  limited,  not  only  in  quality,  but  quantity, 
the  children  usually  going  about  stark  naked — the  women  with  only  a 
calico  dress  on,  and  the  men  wearing  only  their  pants.  It  is  rather 
a  novel  sight,  at  the  eleven  o'clock  halt  from  work,  to  see  these  peo 
ple  gathering  for  their  rations. 

Attached  to  every  estate  is  \hepotrero,  or  corral,  where  are  herded 
the  cattle  used  in  doing  the  hauling  on  the  place,  and  also  those  in 
tended  for  supplying  the  hands  with  meat. 

Of  the  cane  itself  there  are  several  species  known  in  Cuba.  The 
criolla,  or  native  cane,  is  the  oldest  known,  being  that  brought  to 
Spain  by  Columbus,  on  his  second  voyage,  from  the  Canaries,  but  is 
thin,  poor,  and  not  very  juicy ;  that  of  Otaheite,  which  is  large,  thick, 
and  preferred  by  the  sugar-makers,  being  introduced  into  the  Island 
in  1795  I  ^at  of  the  Cristallina,  last  introduced,  and  cultivated  by 
many  us  preferable  to  that  of  Otaheite,  a  cartful  of  which  will  give  a 
pan  and  a  half  of  dry  sugar,  amounting  to  about  sixty  pounds. 

The  height  Stained  by  the  cane,  averaging  as  it  does  six  or  eight 


SUGAR-MAKING   IN    CUBA.  433 

feet,  and  sometimes  reaching  twenty,  the  length  of  joint,  the  color, 
and  many  other  particulars,  vary  with  different  species,  with  the 
character  of  the  soil,  and  with  the  mode  of  culture  adopted.  The 
stems  are  divided  by  prominent  annular  joints  into  short  lengths 
from  each  joint  of  which  there  sprout  long,  narrow  leaves,  which,  as 
the  canes  approach  maturity,  drop  off  from  the  lower  joints. 

The  outer  part  of  the  cane  is  hard  and  brittle,  but  the  inner  con 
sists  of  a  soft  pith  containing  the  sweet  juice,  which  is  elaborated 
separately  in  each  joint.  This  is  very  nutritious,  and  is  eaten  in 
large  quantities  by  the  negroes,  who  in  their  leisure  moments  are 
generally  supplied  with  a  piece  at  which  they  constantly  suck,  hav 
ing  prepared  it  by  stripping  off  the  outer  skin,  which  leaves  in  a  good 
piece  of  cane  almost  a  solid  lump  of  sugar. 

The  cane  is  propagated  by  slips  or  cuttings,  consisting  of  the  top 
of  the  cane  with  two  or  three  of  the  upper  joints,  the  leaves  being 
stripped  off  These  are  planted,  either  in  holes  dug  by  hand  or  in 
trenches  formed  by  a  plough,  about  eight  or  twelve  inches  deep,  the 
earth  being  banked  up  upon  the  margin,  and  well  manured;  two  or 
more  slips  are  laid  longitudinally  at  the  bottom  of  each  hole,  and 
covered  with  earth  from  the  banks  to  the  depth  of  one  or  two  inches. 

In  about  a  fortnight  the  sprouts  appear  a  little  above  the  earth,  and 
then  a  little  more  earth  from  the  bank  is  put  in  the  hole,  and  as  the 
plants  continue  to  grow,  the  earth  is  occasionally  filled  in  a  little  at  a 
time,  until,  after  four  or  five  months,  the  holes  are  entirely  filled  up. 

The  planting  takes  place  in  the  intervals  of  the  rainy  season, 
which  commences  regularly  in  June,  and  lasts  until  October  or 
November,  the  cutting  taking  place  immediately  after  the  Christmas 
holidays,  and  continuing  on  up  to  May,  even,  in  some  cases. 

The  maturity  of  the  cane  is  indicated  by  the  skin  becoming  dry, 
smooth,  and  brittle,  by  the  cane  becoming  heavy,  the  pith  gray, 
approaching  to  brown,  and  the  juice  sweet  and  glutinous.  It  is 
usual  to  raise  several  crops  in  successive  years  from  the  same  roots, 
the  plan,  I  believe,  being  to  plant  about  one-third  of  the  grounds 
every  year. 

When  the  cane  is  ripe  for  cutting,  the  mill  is  put  in  complete  run- 
28 


434  SUGAR-MAKING  IN   CUBA. 

ning  order,  and  the  hands,  under  the  charge  of  the  mayoral,  proceed 
to  the  field  of  now  green  cane,  each  negro — man,  woman,  or  child — 
armed  with  a  machete t  or  knife  of  peculiar  construction,  something 
like  a  butcher's  cleaver,  and  very  strong  and  sharp.  Spreading  them 
selves  out  over  the  field,  they  begin  the  cutting  of  the  cane,  first  by 
one  cut  at  the  top,  which  takes  off  the  long  leaves  and  that  part  of 
the  cane  which  is  worthless,  except  as  it  is  used  for  food  for  the 
cattle  ;  a  second  cut  is  then  given  as  near  the  root  as  possible,  the 
cane  falling  carelessly  to  the  ground,  from  which  it  is  gathered  as 
wanted. 

A  Lively  Scene. 

A  field  in  the  cutting  season  presents  a  lively  sight,  with  its  three 
or  four  hundred  laborers  superintended  by  the  mayoral  on  horseback, 
its  carpet  of  cut  cane,  and  its  long  lines  of  slowly-moving  carts,  with 
their  noisy  drivers,  while  the  sea  of  standing  cane,  sometimes  extenc2- 
ing  for  miles  and  miles,  is  stirred  by  the  gentle  breeze  into  waves  of 
undulating  green. 

The  carts  being  now  piled  up  with  the  cane,  and  the  fodder  left 
upon  the  ground  to  be  carried  off  another  time,  they  drive  back  in  a 
long  line  to  the  mill,  where  they  empty  the  cane  under  a  large  shed, 
close  to  that  portion  of  the  mill  wherein  is  the  crusher. 

This  pile  of  carie  generally  becomes  immense,  as  the  carts  keep 
continually  bringing  it  in  faster  than  the  mill  can  grind  during  the 
day;  and  at  night,  work  in  the  field,  as  a  general  thing,  ceases— a 
portion  of  the  hands  going  in  the  early  part  of  the  evening  to  get 
their  rest,  while  the  others  keep  feeding  the  cane  to  the  mill. 
Towards  morning,  when  the  stock  on  hand  gets  low,  the  negroes  are 
called  up,  and  sent  out  to  the  field  to  keep  up  the  supply  of  cut  cane, 
the  engine  never  ceasing  to  run  night  or  day,  unless  in  case  of  acci 
dent,  during  the  whole  of  the  grinding  season. 

The  cane  being  deposited  under  the  shed  at  the  mill  in  sufficient 
quantities,  the  engine  is  started,  and  the  machinery  put  in  motion. 
The  cane  is  then  thrown  by  the  hands  upon  an  endless  inclined  flexi 
ble  conductor,  formed  of  strips  of  wood  and  links  of  chain,  which. 
being  constantly  in  motion,  and  passing  round  a  cylinder  near  r 


SUGAR-MAKING   IN    CUBA. 

crushers,  throws  the  cane  into  their  jaws,  by  which  the  juice  is  com 
pletely  pressed  out  of  it,  and  passes  in  a  continuous  stream  into  the 
troughs  beneath,  while  the  refuse  cane  is  carried  out  on  the  other 
side  into  a  wooden  trough,  from  which  it  is  taken  by  hand,  placed  in 
carts,  and  carried  off  to  the  furnaces. 

These  crushers,  or  maquinas  de  moler,  as  they  are  called,  consist  of 
three  immensely  large,  solid,  iron  rollers,  placed  horizontally,  revolv 
ing,  one  above  and  two  beneath,  in  a  kind  of  pyramidal  form,  the 
opening  between  the  upper  and  first  lower  one  being  larger  than  that 
between  the  upper  and  second  lower  one,  in  order  to  form  more  of  a 
mouth  with  which  to  draw  in  the  cane  from  the  feeder. 

The  juice,  as  it  now  runs  out  in  a  liquid  state,  is  an  opaque  fluid,  of 
a  dull  gray  or  olive-green  color,  of  a  sweet,  pleasant  taste,  and  is 
known  by  the  name  of  guarapo.  It  is  quite  thick,  and  holds  in  sus 
pension  particles  of  the  cane  and  refuse,  which  are  separated  from  it 
by  filtration.  This  liquid  is  so  exceedingly  fermentable  that  it  is 
necessary  to  clarify  it  immediately.  It  runs  from  the  mill  by  means 
of  troughs  or  conductors,  passing  in  its  course  into  pans  of  copper, 
pierced  with  holes  like  a  cullender,  through  which  the  liquor  runs, 
leaving  its  refuse  matter  on  the  surface  to  be  disposed  of  by  a  man 
constantly  in  attendance  for  the  purpose. 

It  is  then  forced,  by  means  of  pumps,  into  large  tanks,  from  which 
it  is  conveyed  by  a  trough  to  the  clarifiers,  which  are  large  kettles 
heated  by  steam.  In  these,  defecation  takes  place,  the  process  being 
assisted  by  four  or  five  ounces  of  lime  to  every  four  hundred  and 
fifty  gallons  of  boiling  liquid  contained  in  each  kettle.  Sometimes 
more  lime  is  required,  this  depending  entirely  upon  the  density  of  the 
juice. 

In  connection  with  these  vats,  which  are  known  as  clarifiers,  there 
is  generally  used  a  test  paper,  by  which  the  juice  is  tested  as  it 
comes  from  the  mill,  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  acidity  in  it.  This 
is  a  simple  chemically-prepared  paper,  of  a  blue  color,  which,  on 
being  put  into  the  liquid,  turns  to  a  red  color,  more  or  less  intense 
according  to  the  degree  of  acidity  in  the  juice. 

From  the  clarifiers,  the  juice,  after  settling,  is  filtered  through  vats, 


436  SUGAR-MAKING   IN    CUBA. 

filled  nearly  up  to  the  top  with  bone-black,  which  is  usually  used  two 
or  three  times,  or  until  the  juice  changes  color  or  does  not  run  off 
well.  The  length  of  time  which  the  bone-black  is  used  is  the  real 
secret  of  the  difference  in  some  sugars';  and,  as  proof  of  this,  on  the 
estates  where  the  finest  sugars  are  made,  the  bone-black  is  changed 
every  eight  hours ;  while  on  the  estates  where  the  poorest  sugar  is 
made,  it  is  changed  only  once  in  two  or  three  days. 

From  these  clarifying  vats  there  are  three  copper  troughs, — one 
for  molasses,  one  for  cane-juice,  and  one  for  syrups.  From  these 
three  troughs  as  many  pipes  lead  to  large  tanks,  which  are  simply 
receptacles  for  the  material  accumulating.  From  these  tanks,  again, 
the  liquor  is  conveyed  to  the  vacuum-pans,  the  principle  of  latent 
heat  being  made  use  of  to  evaporate  the  cane-juice. 

These  vacuum-pans  are  three  in  number,  the  first  of  which  is  for 
juice,  the  second  for  syrup,  and  the  third  a  strike-pan,  as  it  is  called. 
The  vacuum-pan  consists  of  a  close  copper  vessel,  perfectly  air  tight, 
the  middle  portion  cylindrical,  and  from  six  to  seven  feet  in  diam 
eter,  the  upper  portion  convex  or  dome-shaped,  and  the  bottom  also 
convex,  but  less  so  than  the  top.  The  bottom  of  the  pan  is  double, 
the  cavity  between  the  inner  and  outer  bottom  forming  a  receptacle 
for  steam;  and  there  is  also  a  coiled  steam-pipe  just  over  the  upper 
bottom.  There  is  one  pipe  of  communication  with  the  vessel  of  clar 
ified  syrup,  one  with  the  vessel  which  is  to  receive  the  crystallized 
sugar,  and  one  with  an  air-pump,  and  there  are  numerous  valves, 
gauges,  etc. 

In  using  the  pan,  a  quantity  of  liquid  sugar  is  admitted,  and  the 
air-pump  is  set  to  work  to  exhaust  all  the  air  from  the  pan  in  order 
that  the  contents  may  boil  at  a  low  temperature.  To  enable  the  per 
son  who  superintends  the  process  to  ascertain  when  the  syrup  is 
sufficiently  evaporated,  the  pan  is  supplied  with  a  very  ingenious 
appendage  called  the  proof-stick,  by  which  a  little  of  the  sugar  can 
be  taken  out,  and  its  state  ascertained  by  the  touch.  Some  of  the 
pans  have  a  small  glass  window,  through  which  can  be  seen  the  liquid 
in  a  boiling  state. 

The  clarified  juice  from  the  tank  before  mentioned  is  pumped  into 


SUGAR-MAKING  IN   CUBA.  437 

the  first  pan,  from  the  first  into  the  second,  it  having1  now  become 
syrup  of  twenty-eight  degrees  density ;  thence  it  is  pumped  into 
syrup  clarifiers,  then  skimmed,  then  run  again  through  filters  of 
bone-black ;  out  of  these  filters  it  goes  to  the  syrup-trough,  and 
thence  to  the  syrup-tank  before  mentioned. 

It  is  now  ready  for  the  third  or  strike-pan,  being  drawn  up  by  the 
vacuum  at  the  option  of  the  sugar-maker,  and  when  the  pan  is  full,  it 
is  discharged  by  a  valve  into  the  strike-heater,  a  double-bottomed 
kettle  with  a  sufficient  amount  of  steam  to  keep  the  sugar  warm,  and 
create  a  certain  degree  of  crystallization ;  from  this  it  goes  into 
the  moulds,  or  hormast  before  described. 

Common  Grades  of  Sugar. 

These  moulds  are  then  run  on  small  railway  trucks  into  the  purg- 
ing-house,  and  then  through  the  different  finishing  processes  before 
described.  The  molasses  that  drains  off  in  the  purging-house  is 
afterwards  re-boiled  and  made  into  a  common  grade  of  sugar,  known 
as  molasses-sugar.  The  best  molasses  comes  from  the  nioscabado 
sugar,  since  it  has  not  passed  through  so  many  purifying  operations, 
and,  therefore,  has  more  saccharine  matter  in  it. 

The  sugar  being  thoroughly  dried,  sorted,  and  pulverized,  is  car 
ried  into  the  packing-room,  where,  ranged  upon  a  slightly  elevated 
frame,  are  the  empty  packing-boxes,  capable  of  holding  four  hundred 
pounds  each.  These  are  filled  with  the  loose  sugar,  a  gang  of 
negroes  or  coolies  range  themselves  on  each  side  of  the  rows,  with 
broad,  heavy  packing-sticks  in  their  hands,  and  thus  all  together  they 
pound  away,  keeping  time  with  their  strokes,  and  making  music  with 
their  voices.  This  seems  to  be  a  very  primitive  way  of  packing 
the  sugar,  taking  as  it  does  so  much  time ;  but  no  other  plan  has 
ever  been  successfully  tried. 

The  sugar  being  now  tightly  packed  in  the  boxes,  the  latter  are 
closed  up  and  strapped  with  narrow  strips  of  raw  hide,  and  are  then 
shipped  to  market. 

The  foregoing  process  of  sugar-making  differs,  of  course,  in  some 
respects,  on  different  estates  ;  but  the  general  method  is  the  same,  the 


438  SUGAR-MAKING   IN    CUBA. 

differences  being  generally  due  to  some  variation  in  the  kind  of 
machinery, — some  of  the  manufacturers,  for  instance,  still  clinging  to 
the  old-fashioned  method  of  boiling  the  sugar  in  open  pans,  which 
of  course  allows  a  great  deal  of  valuable  matter  to  escape ;  others 
not  going  through  so  much  of  the  refining  process  with  the  crop. 

In  concluding  this  chapter,  it  may  interest  the  reader  to  know  that 
sugar-making  was  first  tried  in  Cuba  as  far  back  as  1535,  when  a 
grant  of  land  was  made  for  that  purpose  on  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Cerro,  near  Havana,  though  good  authorities  state  that  it  was  in 
Havana  itself,  and  at  Regla,  on  the  other  side  of  the  bay,  in  1598, 
that  really  paying  sugar  estates  were  established. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
Description  of  Far- Famed  Matanzas. 

OF  all  the  towns  in  the  Island  of  Cuba  visited  by  travelers^ 
Matanzas  is  the  one  that  gives  entire  satisfaction  to  the  gener 
ality  of  visitors.  Built  with  regularity  and  in  good  style,  it  lies 
prettily  at  the  foot  of  surrounding  hills,  on  the  shore  of  the  beautiful 
bay  of  Matanzas,  while  through  its  limits  run  two  small  rivers,  which 
empty  into  the  bay  and  serve  to  give  additional  character  and  beauty 
to  the  place.  Away  from  the  grand  rush  of  travel  that  fills  up  Havana 
in  the  winter,  Matanzas  gets  a  smaller  share  of  attention  which,  from 
its  many  attractions,  it  more  richly  merits  than  almost  any  place  upon 
the  Island. 

The  inhabitants  are  polished  and  hospitable,  and  there  is  great 
wealth  amongst  them,  while  the  women  are  remarkably  pretty 
(naturally).  These  things,  with  the  natural  beauties  of  the  city,  make 
it  the  pleasantest  place  for  an  invalid,  or  any  one  desiring  to  pass 
several  months  on  the  Island  without  traveling. 

Matanzas,  now  the  second  city  of  the  Island  in  riches  and  com 
merce,  is  situated  at  the  depth  of  the  bay  of  the  same  name,  formed 
by  an  arm  of  the  sea,  into  which  empty  the  waters  of  the  rivers  San 
Juan  and  Yumuri.  The  city  proper  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the 
river  Yumuri,  and  on  the  south  by  that  of  San  Juan,  while  on  the 
east  side  are  the  brilliant  waters  of  the  noble  bay. 

It  is  said  that  the  town  is  built  upon  the  sight  of  a  former  Indian 
village,  known  by  the  early  discoverers  by  its  original  appellation  of 
"  Yucayo."  Some  thirty  families,  having  emigrated  from  the  Canary 
Isles,  located  themselves  upon  the  spot,  or  in  the  neighborhood ;  for 
Manzaneda,  to  effect  a  settlement,  had  purchased  from  Charles  II. 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  with  the  adjoining  corral 
(a  cattle-field),  known  as  Matanzas,  which  signifies  "  slaughter-pen.'1 

489 


440  FAR-FAMED   MATANZAS. 

The  same  name  is  retained  to-day,  with  the  addition  of  those  of  its 
patron  saints,  San  Severino  and  San  Carlos. 

The  above  regular  settlement  took  place  on  the  loth  day  of  October, 
1693,  which  was  on  a  Saturday,  and  on  Sunday,  Bishop  Compostello 
arrived.  On  Monday,  the  ground  having  been  previously  marked 
out,  he  laid  the  first  stone  for  the  future  church  or  cathedral,  with  the 
celebration  of  a  grand  Mass;  at  the  same  time  were  traced  the  lines 
of  the  castle,  known  as  San  Carlos,  still  standing  as  a  fort  upon  the 
Punta  Gorda. 

Like  many  of  the  towns  of  the  Island,  Matanzas  was  threatened  at 
various  times  by  attack  from  buccaneers  and  enemies,  and  has  even 
had  naval  engagements  off  its  harbor ;  but  its  most  serious  loss  was 
in  1845,  when  there  took  place,  in  the  month  of  June,  a  great  confla 
gration,  which  destroyed  over  two  million  dollars'  worth  of  property. 

Handsome  Houses  and  Stores. 

It  is  now,  however,  a  pretty,  well-built  city,  with  a  really  fine 
public  square — the  Plaza  de  Armas — which  is  prettily  laid  out  with 
walks,  shrubbery,  and  flowers,  with  a  fine  statue  of  Ferdinand  VII. 
in  the  centre.  On  the  east  side  are  the  residence  and  offices  of  the 
commandantet  while  on  the  other  three  sides  are  well-built,  handsome 
houses  and  stores,  with  one  or  two  cafes,  the  whole  having  a  very  fine 
appearance. 

There  is  only  one  church,  a  large  antique-looking  old  building,  re 
markable  for  nothing  except  the  rough  architectural  beauties  of  its 
towers,  particularly  the  taller  one  of  the  two,  which  has  some  con 
siderable  height.  There  is  a  fine  new  theatre,  the  handsomest  on  the 
Island ;  also  a  number  of  public  buildings,  none  of  which  are  re 
markable  in  any  way. 

That  portion  of  the  town  lying  to  the  south  of  the  river  San  Juan 
is  known  as  "  Pueblo  Nuevo,"  in  which  is  situated  the  railroad  depot, 
and  in  its  outskirts  several  beautiful  country  places,  the  river  being 
crossed  by  well-built  bridges  of  solid  stone.  On  the  other  side  of 
the  river  Yumuri,  this  portion  of  the  town  is  known  as  Versailles, 
reaching  to  the  very  foot  of  the  hill,  known  as  the  "  Cumbre,"  from 


FAR-FAMED   MATANZAS.  44i 

the  summit  of  which  is  seen  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Yumuri; 
while  on  the  hills  facing  the  bay  stand  the  military  hospital  and  the 
barracks  of  Santa  Isabel,  capable  of  containing  over  fifteen  hundred 
men.  Close  to  it,  on  the  extreme  edge  of  the  bay,  is  the  beautiful 
paseo  of  Versailles,  the  favorite  drive  of  the  inhabitants,  of  an  evening. 
At  the  end  of  the  paseo  is  the  small  castle  and  fort  of  San  Severino. 
The  object  of  greatest  attraction,  however,  to  the  passing  traveler 
are  the  "  Caves  of  Beliamar,"  situated  to  the  south-east  of  the  city, 
about  two  and  a  half  miles,  and  reached  by  a  very  pleasant  hour's 
drive,  a  portion  of  the  way  being  by  the  sea-side.  This  trip  is  usually 
made  in  the  early  morning,  though  it  is  a  pretty  drive  at  any  hour, 
and  the  caves  are  worth  going  to  see  several  times. 

Resembling  Scenes  in  Venice. 

Having  ordered  your  volante  (if  only  gentlemen  are  in  the  party, 
go  on  horseback)  the  night  previous,  you  will  find,  at  six  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  waiting  your  coming,  a  two-horse  volante  and  driver; 
for  which  you  will  be  charged  about  six  dollars  and  thirty-seven  cents 
for  the  excursion.  On  the  way  out,  you  cross  the  stone  bridge  over 
the  San  Juan,  known  as  the  "  Belen  Bridge,"  and  pass  through  the 
town  beyond,  known  as  "  New  Town."  These  rivers  running 
through  the  city  in  this  way  give  it  a  particularly  Venetian  appear 
ance,  and  views  taken  from  one  or  two  blocks  upon  the  river  bank 
might  be  readily  mistaken  for  scenes  in  Venice. 

In  the  new  town  there  is  a  handsome  street  that  the  traveler  should 
direct  his  driver  to  go  through  en  route  to  the  cave ;  it  is  called  the 
"  Calzada  de  Esteban,"  and  contains  together,  in  one  block,  a  col 
lection  of  private  dwelling-houses,  the  newest,  most  tasteful  and  beau 
tiful  seen  in  Cuba.  The  houses  are  large,  beautifully  built,  with  very 
imposing  and  handsome  pillared  fronts  and  porticoes,  generally  with 
large  and  luxuriantly-flowering  gardens,  while  the  combination  of 
iron-railing  of  pretty  designs,  with  stone  pillars  and  bases,  gives  a 
most  charming  effect. 

There  will,  also,  be  noticed  here  the  happy  use  made  of  prettily- 
colored  tiles  in  the  formation  of  terraces  (if  we  may  so  call  them)  to 


442  FAR-FAMED  MATANZAS. 

the  fronts  of  the  piazzas.  There  is  a  pleasing  effect  to  this  style  of 
architecture  in  Cuba,  when,  if  the  same  style  were  adopted  with  us, 
it  would  be  pronounced  too  gaudy,  or  ginger-bread  looking ;  while 
here,  from  the  peculiar  climate,  where  the  sky  is  always  so  beautifully 
blue,  and  the  sun  brightly  hot,  the  high  colors  used  in  architecture 
seem  in  harmony  with  those  of  nature. 

Leaving  now  the  town  behind  us,  and  passing  by  some  straggling 
houses,  we  come  out  by  the  side  of  the  bay,  whose  emerald-green 
waters  wash  gently  the  sandy  shore,  and  from  whose  blue  distance 
come  the  cooling  ocean  breezes  of  early  morning ;  while  across  the 
bay  are  the  verdure-clad  hills  that  over-top  the  valley  of  lovely 
Yumuri ;  the  picture  being  completed  on  our  right  hand  by  green 
banks  and  hills,  overshadowed  by  the  tall  and  graceful  palm,  or  the 
fan-like  branches  of  the  cocoanut  tree. 

Entrance  to  the  Cave. 

Turning  off  from  the  sea-side,  and  winding  up  a  rugged  and  stony 
road,  some  distance  up  the  hills,  upon  the  top  of  the  plateau,  we  come 
to  the  "  Cave  House,"  a  large  frame  building  erected  over  the  entrance 
to  the  cave,  and  containing  the  visitors'  register,  as  also  numerous 
specimens  of  the  crystal  formations  of  the  cave.  In  the  centre  of  the 
building  is  the  stairway  leading  into  the  entrance  of  the  cave. 

We  would  advise  all  visitors  to  the  cave  to  divest  themselves  of 
any  superfluous  clothing  in  the  way  of  coats,  shawls,  vests,  etc.,  which 
they  can  leave  in  charge  of  the  attendant ;  for  the  atmosphere  inside 
is  quite  warm,  and,  with  the  exercise,  gets  to  be,  before  coming  out, 
quite  oppressive. 

Well,  we  pay  our  dollar  each  ;  the  muchacho  takes  his  one  candle, 
and,  following  him,  we  descend  the  stairs  into  the  cave.  After  a  few 
paces,  we  cross  a  small  wooden  bridge,  and  find  ourselves  in  the 
"  Gothic  Temple."  Even  in  the  obscure  light  (though  in  this  par 
ticular  place  one  or  two  lanterns  are  hung  up)  one  can  see  that  it  is 
very,  very  beautiful,  with  its  millions  of  crystals,  its  thousand  weird 
forms,  and  gloomy  corners.  When  the  candle  is  placed  behind  some 
of  the  columns  or  projecting  crystals,  their  transparency  produces  a 


FAR-FAMED   MATANZAS.  .443 

most  lovely  effect,  their   colors  varying  from  the  purest   white   to 
amber  and  the  most  tender  of  rose  tints. 

This  temple  is  quite  two  hundred  feet  long,  and  about  seventy 
wide,  and  is  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  from  the  entrance  of 
the  cave ;  and  while  it  far  surpasses  in  richness  and  splendor  the 
temple  of  the  same  name  in  the  Mammoth  Cave,  it  does  not  equal  it 
in  size  or  solemn  grandeur,  though,  as  far  as  the  ease  and  comfort 
with  which  the  cave  is  seen,  it  is  far  ahead  of  the  Kentucky  cave,  as 
the  proprietor  has  had  enterprise  enough  to  make  strong  bridges, 
plank  walks,  and,  when  necessary,  strong  iron-railings  for  protection 
from  slipping. 

"A  Dream  of  Fairyland." 

The  Mammoth  Cave  leaves  upon  the  mind  an  impression  of 
solemn,  gloomy  grandeur,  and  one  peoples  it  with  gnomes  and 
demons.  This  cave  is  a  dream  of  fairy-land,  with  its  sprites  and 
lovely  fairies  keeping  gay  revel  to  soft  music ;  and  one  almost  expects 
to  see  shooting  from  the  crystal  shadows  some  lovely  Undine  or 
beauteous  na'iad.  One  becomes  thus  dreamy  under  the  influences  of 
the  names  of  some  of  the  most  striking  places,  many  of  which,  the 
muchacho  says,  "  some  call  one  thing  and  some  another  ; "  for  every 
pillar  has  its  great  name — as  "  Columbus'  Mantle,"  and  every  mass  is 
likened  unto  the  "  Guardian  Spirit,"  or  more  sacred  "  Altar,"  while 
without  the  "  Cloak  of  the  Virgin  "  it  would  not  be  a  Cuban  cave. 

This  "  Fuente  de  Nieve"  (fountain  of  snow)  is  one  of  the  loveliest 
portions  and  most  striking  objects  in  the  cave ;  but  it  contains  attrac 
tions  enough  to  bring  one  here  again  and  again,  when  he  can  get  the 
chance.  The  cave  is  thus  far  opened  about  three  miles  in  extent, 
and  its  greatest  depth  below  the  surface  of  the  earth  is  five  hundred 
feet.  It  has  been  opened  about  twenty  years,  having  been  first  dis 
covered  in  an  accidental  way,  by  one  of  the  workmen  of  Senor  Don 
Manuel  Santos  Parga,  who,  while  working  near  by,  saw  his  lever 
sink  through  the  hole  which  proved  to  be  the  entrance  to  the  cave. 
"  Who  has  not  seen  the  Caves  of  Bellamar  has  not  seen  Cuba" 

The  views  of  the  valley  of  the  Yumuri  should  by  all  means  be 


444  FAR-FAMED   MATANZAS. 

seen  both  at  sunrise  and  sunset  This  excursion  should  be  made  on 
horseback,  by  young  people,  as  it  is  a  beautiful  road  of  an  afternoon, 
winding  up  the  hill,  the  town  being  left  behind  until  it  becomes  only 
a  confused  mass  of  buildings  in  the  distance ;  while  to  the  right 
hand  is  the  bay  with  its  shipping  and  forts,  and  beyond,  the  hazy 
landscape ;  and  after  a  short  ride,  a  full  and  splendid  view  of  the 
ocean  breaks  upon  you.  The  ascent  is  a  steep  one,  though  over  a 
very  fair  road,  particularly  for  horses,  and  the  change  in  the  atmos 
phere  can  be  noticed  almost  immediately  after  the  first  turn  on  the 
hill,  while  before  the  return  at  night  it  is  quite  cold,  so  that  a  shawl 
will  not  be  amiss  for  lady  travelers. 

The  Far-famed  Yumuri. 

After  about  an  hour  and  a  half  continuous  ascent,  the  road  sud 
denly  winds  around  the  brink  of  a  grassy  precipice,  and  there,  spread 
out  at  one's  feet,  lies  the  far  famed,  poetically  described,  beautiful 
valley  of  the  Yumuri,  with  its  patches  of  green  and  gold,  and  its 
groups  in  twos  and  threes  of  graceful  waving  palm-trees,  while 
meandering  through  its  grassy  banks  is  the  little  stream  of  Yumuri, 
looking  like  a  silver  ribband,  except  where,  here  and  there,  its  waters 
are  golden-hued  from  the  setting  sun  ;  and  over  all  these  hangs  that 
air  of  perfect  stillness — that  grand,  quiet  solitude — which  one  often 
realizes  amid  such  noble  expanses  of  nature  as  this. 

All  travelers  are  in  the  habit  of  stopping  to  see  a  sugar-house  in 
the  vicinity,  and  get  a  view  from  the  top  of  the  dwelling.  One  can 
get  a  general  idea  of  sugar-making,  though  on  a  very  small  scale ; 
or  he  can  taste  the  boiling  guarapo  (sugar-juice)  from  the  trough, 
and,  if  he  is  consumptive,  "  sniff"  the  odors  of  the  boiling  sugar,  said 
to  be  so  beneficial  to  weak  lungs. 

Says  a  traveler :  "  Our  interview  with  the  little  black  nifios  was 
highly  amusing.  On  entering  the  court-yard  of  the  negro  quarters, 
a  dozen  little  black  imps,  of  all  ages  and  sexes  and  sizes,  perfectly 
naked,  rushed  towards  us,  and  crossing  their  arms  upon  their  breasts, 
fell  upon  their  knees  before  us,  and  jabbered  and  muttered,  out  of 
which  could  be  distinguished,  "  Master,  master,  give  us  thy  blessing," 


FAR-FAMED   MATANZAS.  445 

which  we  interpreted  to  mean  "  tin ;"  whereupon  we  scattered  sundry 
medios  amongst  them.  Hey  !  presto !  what  a  change !  The  little 
black  devils  fell  over  one  another,  fought,  tugged,  and  scrambled  to 
secure  a  prize ;  while  any  one  who  had  been  lucky  enough  to  obtain 
a  coin,  marched  off  in  a  state  of  dignified  delight,  his  distended  little 
stomach  going  before  him  like  a  small  beer-barrel,  while  the  owner 
of  it  kept  shouting  out,  '  Medio,  yo  tengo  medio '  (five  cents,  I  have  five 
cents)." 

Sublime  Scenery. 

There  is  another  view  of  this  charming  valley  of  the  Yumuri  to 
the  west  of  the  town,  out  over  the  hills,  known  as  the  "  Abra  de 
Yumuri,"  or  "  Boca,"  as  it  is  sometimes  called.  The  view  is  of 
the  whole  valley,  from  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  with  the  grand, 
majestic  opening  in  the  rocks,  as  though  they  had  been  s  indered 
expressly  to  let  the  river  through. 

From  the  top  of  the  hill  can  be  seen  the  picturesque  towers  of  the 
city,  and  the  waters  of  the  bay,  with  all  its  shipping  displayed  therein  : 
while  in  the  background,  towards  the  south,  are  seen  the  distant  hills 
that  extend  from  the  hill  of  San  Juan  to  those  of  Camarioca,  looking 
like  blue  clouds  against  the  roseate  sky. 

The  livery  stables  of  Matanzas  furnish  very  fair  teams,  and  the 
saddle-horses  are  also  very  good;  they  can  be  had  by  ordering  them 
at  your  hotel.  Ladies  who  are  not  accustomed  to  riding  much  will 
find  riding  the  Cuban  ponies  a  very  easy  affair  indeed ;  for  their  gait 
is  a  species  of  amble — whatl&ve  call  racking — and  our  fair  novices  in 
equestrianism  pronounce  it  "  divine." 

Securing  a  stylish  turn-out,  about  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  we 
will  drive  down  to  El  Paseo,  which  is  on  the  extreme  edge  of  that 
portion  of  the  city  known  as  Versailles,  and  immediately  on  the 
shore  of  the  bay,  whence  come,  morning  and  evening,  the  delightful 
sea-breezes  which  everybody  comes  down  here  to  get. 

This  paseo  is  a  pretty  drive,  about  half  a  mile  long,  and  beyond  it 
a  road  of  about  the  same  length  to  the  castle.  It  is  laid  out  with 
gravel-walks,  rows  of  trees,  and  a  stone  parapet,  with  iron-gates  at 


446  FAR-FAMED    MATANZAS. 

each  end  of  the  drive ;  and  if  the  stranger  wants  to  see  the  beauty 
and  fashion  of  Matanzas,  it  is  here  that  he  can  do  so,  particularly  on 
Sunday  afternoon — that  being  the  great  day.  Quite  as  many  elegant 
equipages  can  here  be  seen,  in  proportion  to  the  population  and  size 
of  the  place,  as  in  Havana. 

Starting  from  the  front  gate,  they  drive  the  whole  length  of  the 
paseo,  turning  at  the  other  end  and  retracing  their  course ;  and  this 
they  do  for  an  hour  or  more  at  a  time,  until  there  is  a  perfect  string 
of  carriages  following  one  another  around  and  around.  Towards 
eight  o'clock,  if  it  is  the  night  of  the  retreta  (always  Sunday),  when 
the  band  plays  at  the  Plaza,  most  of  the  carriages  file  off  to  that 
square. 

Grotesque  Street  Scenes. 

One  of  the  most  delightful  pleasures  in  Matanzas  is  that  of  the 
bath  at  the  Ojo  de  Agua  (eye  of  water),  where,  on  the  bank  of  the 
Yumuri  River,  some  springs  of  pure,  cool  water  burst  forth,  and 
many  of  the  young  men  walk  out  in  the  fresh  mornings,  and  get  a  dip. 

The  reader  will  be  interested  in  the  following  description  by  a 
tourist  in  Cuba: 

"  It  was  our  good  fortune  to  be  in  Matanzas  during  the  last  three 
days  of  the  Carnival ;  and  while  the  whole  time  was  occupied  by 
noisy  processions  and  grotesque  street  masqueraders,  the  crowning 
ceremonies  were  on  the  last  Sunday  night ;  then  the  whole  town  used 
every  effort  to  wind  up  the  season  in  z.fcu  de  joie  of  pleasure  and 
amusement.  In  almost  every  town  of  any  importance  there  is  an 
association  of  the  young  men,  generally  known  as  *  El  Liceo,' 
organized  for  artistic  and  literary  purposes,  and  for  social  recreation. 

'*  A  fine  large  building  is  generally  occupied  by  the  association, 
with  ample  space  for  theatrical  representations,  balls,  etc. ;  in  addition 
to  which  there  are  billiard-rooms,  and  reading-rooms,  adorned, 
probably,  with  fine  paintings.  In  Matanzas,  this  association  is  known 
as  '  El  Liceo  Artistico  y  Literario  de  Matanzas/  and  is  a  particularly 
fine  one,  being  composed  of  the  Mite  of  the  city,  with  a  fine  large 
house,  to  which  they  made  an  addition  by  purchasing  the  '  Club/ 
beautifully  situated  upon  the  Plaza. 


FAR-FAMED   MATANZAS.  447 

"  Thanks  to  our  letter  of  introduction,  we  were,  through  the  kind 
offices  of  members,  permitted  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  their  grand 
ball,  called  the  '  Pifiata/  which  was  indeed  a  very  fine  affair,  attended 
by  the  beauty  and  fashion  of  Matanzas.  The  ball  commenced  at  the 
sensible  hour  of  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening;  and  at  entering,  each 
one  was  required  to  give  up  his  ticket  to  a  committee  of  managers., 
who  thus  had  a  kind  of  general  inspection  of  all  those  admitted. 

"  Passing  through  the  main  hall,  which  was  ablaze  with  light 
reflected  from  the  highly  colored  walls  and  polished  marble  floor,  we 
entered  a  Sala  de  reception — which,  even  at  this  early  hour,  was  quite 
full,  and  which  opened  into  the  ball-room.  Dear  me,  what  a  sight 
it  was  !  Such  crowds  of  beautiful  women,  such  pretty  dresses,  such 
elegant  coiffures,  in  which,  from  the  abundance  of  the  raven  tresses 
of  the  Senoras,  no  '  rats '  or  '  mice '  were  necessary — at  least,  I  don't 
^hink  there  were;  but  then  we  men  are  so  innocent !  I  do  not  think 
I  ever  saw  so  many  beautiful  women  together. 

Great  Array  of  Female  Beauties. 

"  The  ball-room  was  a  long,  large  hall,  at  the  other  end  of  which 
was  a  pretty  stage,  for  theatrical  representations ;  on  each  side  of  the 
room  was  an  arched  colonnade,  over  which  were  the  galleries,  where 
the  bands  were  posted.  Ranged  in  doubled  rows  of  chairs  the  full 
length  of  the  room,  in  front  of  the  colonnade,  sat  hundreds  of  dark- 
eyed  angels — calm,  dignified,  and  appearing,  most  of  them,  to  be 
mere  lookers-on;  not  a  black  coat  among  them.  All  of  these,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  courageous  ones  that  were  facing  all  this 
beauty,  were  huddled  together  at  the  other  end  of  the  room,  wanting 
the  courage  (it  could  not  be  the  inclination)  to  pay  their  respects  to 
las  Senoritas. 

"  What  is  exactly  the  trouble  in  Cuba  between  the  gentlemen  and 
the  ladies  I  have  never  been  able  quite  to  understand.  The  men  are 
polished  and  gentlemanly,  as  a  general  thing — sufficiently  intelli 
gent,  apparently  ;  while  the  ladies  are  dignified  and  pretty.  And 
yet  I  have  never  seen  that  appearance  of  easy  and  pleasant  inter 
course  between  the  sexes  which  makes  our  society  so  charming. 


448  FAR-FAMED   MATANZAS. 

"  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  it  is  the  fault  of  custom,  in  a  great 
degree,  which  surrounds  women  in  Cuba  with  etiquette,  iron  bars, 
and  formality.  This  would  seem  to  apply  to  the  natives  only ;  for 
nothing  can  be  kinder,  more  friendly,  and  courteous  than  the  man 
ners  of  the  Cuban  ladies  to  strangers,  at  least,  judging  from  what  is 
seen.  It  may  be  as  a  lady  with  whom  I  was  arguing  the  point  said  : 
'  It  is  very  different  with  strangers,  Senor,  and  particularly  with  the 
Americans,  who  are  celebrated  for  their  chivalric  gallantry  to  ladies.' 
Now,  I  call  that  a  very  pretty  national  compliment. 

"  Taking  the  arm  of  my  friend,  we  walk  up  and  down  to  see,  as  he 
expresses  it,  '  who  there  is  to  be  presented  to  ; '  and  faith,  if  beauty  is 
to  be  the  test,  it  would  seem  to  be  a  hard  matter  to  make  up  one's 
mind,  there  is  so  much  of  it ;  but  after  a  turn  or  two  around  the  room, 
this  form  is  gone  through  with,  and  one  begins  to  feel  at  home  and 
ready  to  enjoy  one's  self. 

"  When  one  finds  ladies  (and  there  are  numbers)  who  have  been 
educated  abroad,  either  in  the  United  States  or  Europe,  he  finds  them 
highly  accomplished  and  entertaining.  Several  that  I  had  the  plea 
sure  of  meeting  on  this  and  other  occasions  spoke  French  perfectly, 
some  English,  and  one  or  two  both  of  these  in  addition  to  their 
native  tongue. 

"  But  let  us  return  to  the  ball,  which  is  all  this  time  going  on  with 
great  eclat.  It  opens  with  the  advent  upon  the  stage  of  a  dozen  or 
more  young  men,  under  the  direction  of  a  leader,  in  some  fancy  cos 
tume  very  handsomely  made,  who,  after  making  their  bow  to  the 
audience,  go  through  some  novel  kind  of  dance.  The  performers 
take  this  means  of  filling  up  the  intervals  of  the  general  dance,  and 
amusing  the  audience." 

Galops,  quadrilles,  and  waltzes  are  on  the  programme  ;  but  the  pre 
vailing  dance  here,  as  everywhere  on  the  Island,  is,  or  used  to  be,  the 
Creole  dance  or  waltz  called  "  La  Lanza  " — a  quiet,  graceful  dance, 
and  the  only  one  which,  owing  to  the  heat  of  the  climate,  can  be  en 
joyed  with  any  degree  of  comfort.  The  following  description  of  the 
dance,  written  by  a  Cuban  author,  gives  the  best  idea  of  it : 

"  Though    there   are  known   and  executed  in  the  Island  all  the 


FAR-FAMED  MATANZAS.  449 

modern  dances,  yet  preponderating  over  them  and  eclipsing  them  all 
is  the  irresistible  Danza  Criolla — true  Cuban  specialty.  It  is  nothing 
else  than  the  old-fashioned  Spanish  contra  dance,  modified  by  the 
warm  and  voluptuous  character  of  the  tropical  climate.  Its  music 
is  of  a  peculiar  style — so  much  so,  that  any  one  who  has  not  heard  it 
played  by  one  already  initiated  in  its  mysteries,  will  attempt  in  vain 
to  play  it,  though  he  may  have  it  perfectly  written  before  him. 

Pretty  and  Amusing  Ceremony. 

"  It  is  now  getting  late,  and  the  rooms  are  terribly  warm ;  the  fans 
of  the  long  rows  of  lovely  sitters,  who  have  not  moved  out  of  their 
places  the  whole  evening,  keep  up  a  constant  flutter,  and  one  begins 
to  sigh  for  a  breath  of  fresh  air,  and  relief  from  the  discomforts  of  a 
full-dress  suit ;  but  the  grand  affair  of  the  evening  is  yet  to  come  off, 
we  are  told,  and  so  we  linger  on,  and  are  finally  rewarded  by  the 
grand  ceremony  of  the  Pinata,  from  which  the  ball  takes  its  name. 

"  This  word  I  can  hardly  give  the  meaning  of  as  applied  to  this 
ceremony,  which  consists  in  having  pendant  from  the  ceiling  a  form 
of  ribbands  and  flowers,  the  ribbands  numbered  and  hanging  from 
the  flowers,  the  rights  to  pull  which  are  drawn  like  prizes  in  a  lottery. 
Of  these  ribbands,  one  is  fastened  to  a  beautiful  crown  of  flowers, 
which,  when  the  ribband  to  which  it  is  attached  is  pulled,  falls  into 
the  hands  of  the  lucky  person,  who  has  then  the  privilege  of  crown 
ing  any  lady  he  may  deem  worthy  of  the  honor,  '  Queen  of  the  Ball,' 
to  whom  every  one  is  obliged  to  yield  obedience,  homage,  and  admi 
ration.  There  is,  also,  the  same  opportunity  afforded  to  the  ladies  to 
crown  a  king.  The  whole  ceremony  is  pretty,  and  creates  much 
merriment  and  amusement. 

"  This  ceremony  over,  at  midnight  we  sally  out  into  the  open  air. 
But  what  a  sight  greets  us  there !  Lights  blaze  in  such  profusion 
that  it  seems  more  than  day ;  music  and  dancing  are  everywhere  ; 
soflgs,  deviltry,  and  mirth  have  taken  complete  possession  of  the 
pla.ce ;  while  people  of  all  ages,  sexes,  and  colors  are  mixed  together, 
in  what  seems  inextricable  confusion,  intent  upon  having  a  good  time 
in  the  open  air,  while  their  masters  and  betters  are  doing  the  same 


450  FAR-FAMED  MATANZAS. 

thing  under  cover.     This  is  a  Carnival  sight  indeed,  and  only  to  be 
seen  in  a  tropical  climate. 

"  Some  one  suggests  that  we  go  down  to  the  theatre,  as  the  fun 
only  commences  there  after  midnight ;  and  so  we  go  there,  passing  a 
soldier  or  two  on  guard,  to  see  a  new  phase  of  life  in  the  form  of  a 
mascara,  or  ball  of  the  lower  class,  known  as  the  'Cuna,'  where  peo 
ple  of  all  colors  and  sexes  go  who  are  not  required  to  show  certifi 
cates  of  character  (and  could  not  do  it  if  they  were)  other  than  3 
golden  dollar,  which  is  taken  at  the  door. 

A  Hilarious  Crowd. 

"  Truly  it  is  a  mob  indeed — a  dancing,  noisy,  masked  mob,  who, 
amidst  shouts,  the  din  of  music,  and  the  shuffling  of  feet,  are  going 
through  all  the  figures  of  the  danza  criolla,  most  of  which  are  en 
tirely  unknown  to  its  more  refined  female  admirers.  Keep  your 
hand  on  your  pocket-book,  my  friend,  and  cover  up  your  watch- 
chain  with  your  coat,  as  you  go  through  the  crowd ;  and  more  than 
all,  don't  tread  on  any  one's  toes,  unless  you  are  prepared  to  '  hit  out ' 
quickly.7' 

If,  while  at  Matanzas,  the  traveler  wishes  to  visit  a  Cuban  watering- 
place — the  Cuban  Saratoga,  in  fact — it  can  be  easily  done,  any  day, 
by  taking  a  ticket  for  Madruga.  Now,  unless  indeed  thou  art  an 
invalid,  troubled  with  partial  paralysis,  stiffened  with  rheumatism,  or 
suffering  from  some  other  unfortunate  malady,  think  not  of  going 
there,  even  if  thou  feelest  for  a  moment  the  growing  influence  of  a 
Cuban's  description  of  the  waters  and  place. 

Madruga  is  a  small  village,  to  the  south-west  of  Matanzas,  about 
two  hours'  ride  by  railroad,  and  can  be  easily  reached  twice  a  day, 
being  on  the  direct  road  to  Havana,  by  way  of  the  long  route. 
Madruga  is  simply  a  watering-place,  and  as  such  is  celebrated  for  its 
mineral  springs,  which  are  certainly  very  beneficial — vind  wonderful, 
if  all  the  accounts  be  true  that  are  given  of  then,.  The  season 
begins  for  the  fashionable  world  about  the  middle  of  April,  though 
the  baths  are  taken  all  the  year  round  by  the  villagers  and  strangers. 

The  hotels  are  not  by  any  means  first-class,  anc*  are  entirely  dif- 


FAR-FAMED   MATANZAS.  45} 

ferent  from  anything  we  are  accustomed  to ;  but  any  one  desiring 
particularly  to  try  the  waters,  can  make  himself  pretty  comfortable. 
Though  there  are  some  inducements  on  the  score  of  health  that 
might  tempt  one  to  make  a  prolonged  visit,  yet  we  advise  all  those 
who  have  any  thoughts  of  staying  there  to  run  down  from  Matanzas 
before  moving  their  baggage,  just  to  "  look  before  they  leap." 

The  village  itself  is  an  ordinary  country  village,  the  principal  part 
of  it  being  around  the  Plaza,  and  is  situated  on  high  ground,  in  a 
beautiful  rolling  country,  celebrated  for  being  remarkably  healthy. 
Its  public  buildings  are  confined  to  one  small,  neat  church,  in  addi 
tion  to  the  baths,  which  are  all  public.  These  are  the  property  of 
the  town,  having  been  presented  to  it  by  Don  Jose  O'Farrell,  Gover 
nor-General  in  1820,  on  condition  that  the  town  should  keep  them  in 
order  and  have  them  in  charge.  They  are  in  direct  charge  of  the 
captain  of  the  district,  and  are  kept  in  repair  by  the  contributions  of 
the  people  of  the  village,  who  find  it  to  their  interest  to  attract 
strangers  to  their  town. 

The  baths  are  all  more  or  less  impregnated  with  sulphur,  some 
iron  and  magnesia,  and  some  potassa,  and  are  said  to  be  sovereign 
cures  for  rheumatism,  paralysis,  weakness  of  the  stomach,  scrofula, 
and  some  other  complaints. 

The  baths  are  very  pleasant  to  take,  the  water  being  rather  cold. 
They  are  taken  early  in  the  morning,  and  then,  after  the  siesta,  in  the 
middle  of  the  day,  a  glass  or  two  of  the  water  being  drank  after  each 
bath.  Invalids  from  all  parts  of  the  Island  come  here,  and  it  is  not 
a  very  pleasant  sight  to  go  into  the  bath-room,  sometimes,  and  have 
the  eye  displeased  and  the  mind  shocked  by  the  cases  of  paralysis, 
rheumatism,  etc.,  that  are  there  presented. 

With  a  jolly  party,  one  can  have  a  pretty  good  time  at  Madruga 
— bathing,  riding  on  horseback,  and  walking  to  the  tops  of  the 
neighboring  hills,  from  which  fine  views  may  be  had.  The  view  of 
the  "  Valley  of  Glory,"  from  the  top  of  the  hill  "  Cupey,"  is  very 
fine,  as  are  also  some  of  the  other  views,  and  the  change  of  tempera 
ture  from  the  country  below  is  very  agreeable. 

Far  as  the  eye  can  reach  are  seen  the  waving  fields  of  sugar-cane, 


452  FAR-FAMED  MATANZAS. 

darkened  here  anvS  there  by  patches  of  woods  or  clumps  of  palms ; 
while  in  the  foreground  are  the  tall,  white  chimneys  of  the  sugar- 
mills  belching  forth  their  black  smoke.  In  the  distance  there  is  just 
the  faintest  glimpse  of  the  hazy  sea,  the  distant  mountains  and  hills 
seeming  to  fade  quite  away  into  it. 

Mode  of  Conducting  Funerals. 

One  sees  a  good  deal  of  primitive  life  in  a  village  like  this,  off  of 
the  main  route  of  travel,  and  away  from  the  "  grand  world  "  influ 
ences.  Observe  the  method  of  conducting  funerals.  First  come  the 
small  boys,  with  white  linen  gowns  over  their  clothes,  short  enough 
to  display  their  ragged  pants  and  dirty  boots,  the  boy  in  the  centre 
bearing  a  tall  pole,  upon  the  top  of  which  is  a  silver  cross  partially 
draped,  while  each  of  the  other  boys  carries  a  tall  candlestick. 

Behind  them  comes  the  priest,  in  shabby  attire,  in  one  hand  his 
prayer-book,  from  which  he  is  chanting  from  time  to  time,  while  in 
the  other  hand,  the  sun  being  hot,  he  holds  an  open  umbrella ;  behind 
him,  again,  comes  tottering  along  a  venerable  old  man,  personating 
whilom  the  acolyth,  the  bell-ringer,  the  sacristan,  or  other  church 
functionary,  as  may  be  necessary,  and  now  croning  out  in  his  dreary 
voice,  as  he  goes  swinging  the  burning  censer,  the  second  to  the 
chants  of  the  priest.  The  coffin  then  makes  its  appearance,  formed 
of  rough  boards,  but  covered  with  black  paper-muslin,  and  borne 
upon  the  shoulders  of  four  of  the  villagers,  a  crowd  of  whom,  all 
uncovered,  bring  up  the  rear. 

Here,  as  in  all  other  Catholic  countries,  the  spectators  uncover 
their  heads  at  the  passing  of  the  funeral  cortege.  At  the  church  are 
further  ceremonies  of  reading  prayers,  burning  candles,  and  sprink 
ling  the  coffin  with  holy  water ;  after  which  the  priest  goes  his  way, 
and  the  procession  take  up  the  line  of  march  for  the  new-made  grave 
in  the  dilapidated  and  neglected  cemetery,  where  the  coffin  is  depos 
ited  without  further  ceremony.  No  females  are  present  during  the 
whole  affair. 

This  humble  funeral  is  a  very  different  affair  from  what  one  could 
see  in  the  larger  cities,  and  particularly  Havana,  with  its  ostentatious 


FAR-FAMED   MATANZAS.  453 

display  of  the  corpse  upon  a  sumptuous  catafalque  or  under  a  crystal 
urn,  its  crying  and  screaming  women,  its  long  line  of  carriages,  and 
its  various  ceremonies,  arranged  and  provided  for  by  a  "  funeral 
agency." 

A  family  in  mourning  in  Cuba  not  only  dress  in  dark  clothes  upon 
which  there  is  no  lustre,  but  they  keep  the  windows  of  the  house 
shut  for  six  months  ;  in  fact,  by  an  ordinance  of  the  government,  it  is 
now  prohibited  to  display  the  corpse  to  the  public  through  the  open 
windows,  as  was  formerly  done,  both  they  and  the  doors  being  now 
required  to  be  shut. 

An  Attractive  Village. 

The  traveler  can  leave  Madruga  for  Havana  or  Matanzas,  passing 
on  his  way  to  Havana  the  beautiful  little  village  of  Giiines,  where 
many  people  stay  during  the  hot  season.  There  is  no  particular 
attraction  here,  except  that  the  village  is  pretty,  and  the  country 
around  attractive,  there  being  some  pretty  rides  and  drives,  and  the 
horses  being  very  good.  The  road  to  Havana  runs  through  a  very 
beautiful  country,  amid  lovely  scenery,  and  is  a  very  pleasant  ride. 

Near  to  Matanzas,  on  the  road  to  Bemba,  is  a  very  pretty  little 
town,  known  as  Limonar,  one  of  the  pleasantest  places  on  the  Island, 
and  most  desirable  for  the  invalid,  as  the  air  is  fresh  and  very  invig 
orating.  From  there,  one  can  drive  over  to  the  baths  of  sulphur,  at 
San  Miguel,  which,  in  the  early  spring  months,  are  well  patronized 
by  the  people  of  the  district. 

From  Matanzas,  there  are  a  great  many  pretty  drives  to  neighbor 
ing  places,  where  lovely  views  can  always  be  had ;  and  it  is  as  much 
owing  to  this  fact  as  to  the  pleasant  society  of  the '  town  that  Matan 
zas  is  so  popular  a  place  with  the  stranger. 

After  Yumuri,  one  of  the  most  extended  and  pleasing  views  is 
that  from  the  Hill  of  Paradise,  looking  down  into  the  Valley  of  the 
Magdalen.  A  picture,  vast  and  interesting,  is  offered  to  the  eye  of 
the  spectator  by  this  magnificent  panorama. 

Imagine  a  space  some  fifteen  miles  long,  surrounded  by  hazy 
mountains,  in  a  country  slightly  rolling  with  verdure-clad  hills,  which 


454  FAR-FAMED  MATANZAS. 

serve  as  points  for  the  eye  to  rest  on ;  graceful  groups  of  palms  and 
other  trees,  and  the  picturesque  edifices  of  an  immense  number  of 
ingenios  ;  the  whole  limited  in  the  distance  by  the  city  of  Matanzas — 
the  bay  with  its  shipping ;  beyond  which  is  seen  the  almost  atmos 
pheric  sea  uniting  with  the  azure  sky. 

If  the  traveler,  being  at  Matanzas,  desires  to  visit  Cardenas  or 
Sagua  la  Grande  (and  he  will  do  neither,  if  he  takes  our  advice, 
unless  business  compels  him),  he  has  the  choice  of  two  routes — by 
cars  or  by  steamboats.  This  latter,  however,  we  will  not  take  into 
consideration — the  boats  being  small  and  dirty,  and  irregular  in  their 
trips. 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 
A  Quaint  Old  Town. 

WHAT  a  glorious  morning  it  is,  as  we  come  in  sight  of  the 
superb  Bay  of  Nuevitas ! — the  very  perfection  of  a  May 
day  ;  but  such  a  May-day  as  few  northern  eyes  have  ever 
seen,  wJth  the  brightness  of  the  verdure,  and  the  purity  of  the  won 
drous  atmosphere  and  sky.  And  then  the  water — it  is  so  hard  to 
resist  the  temptation  of  its  sparkling  clearness  and  depth,  and  of  its 
Deductively  cool  appearance,  and  not  make  a  dash  overboard. 

Irving,  in  describing  the  feelings  of  Columbus  on  arriving  off  this 
very  spot,  says :  "  Columbus  was  struck  with  its  magnitude  and  the 
grandeur  of  its  features ;  its  high  and  airy  mountains,  which  reminded 
him  of  those  of  Sicily ;  its  fertile  valleys,  and  long,  sweeping  plains, 
watered  by  noble  rivers  ;  its  stately  forests,  its  bold  promontories, 
and  stretching  headlands,  which  melted  away  into  the  remotest  dis 
tances." 

But  we  have  entered  the  bay,  which  gradually  opens  out  into  an 
immense  land-locked  sheet  of  water.  On  its  extreme  southern  side 
lies  the  small  town  of  Nuevitas  itself,  with  its  few  white-walled  houses 
glaring  in  the  morning  sun.  The  bay  is  said  to  be  the  second  one 
in  size  on  the  Island,  containing  within  its  area  a  space  of  fifty-seven 
square  miles,  though  its  depth  is  not  very  great. 

On  the  I4th  of  November,  1492,  Columbus  anchored  in  this  bay, 
to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Puerto  Principe,  erecting  a  cross  upon 
a  neighboring  height  in  token  of  possession,  and  passing  a  number 
of  days  in  exploring  the  collection  of  beautiful  islands  in  the  vicinity, 
since  known  as  "  El  Jardin  del  Rey,"  or  the  King's  Garden.  This, 
it  is  said,  was  the  foundation  of  the  town  of  Nuevitas,  which  was 
originally  known  as  Santa  Maria ;  but  it  was  not  until  1513  that  a 
permanent  settlement  was  made  under  Diego  Velasquez,  when  the 

455 


456  A   QUAINT   OLD   TOWN. 

principal  town  was  removed  to  the  Indian  village  Caonao,  and  soon 
afterwards  to  the  town  of  Camaguey,  now  known  by  its  name  of 
Puerto  Principe.  Nuevitas,  a  town  of  about  six  thousand  inhabitants, 
gets  its  importance  simply  from  the  fact  that  it  is  the  port  of  entry 
for  the  city  of  Puerto  Principe,  situated  in  the  interior,  at  forty-five 
miles  distance. 

As  a  modern  town,  it  made  its  commencement  in  1819,  under  the 
name  of  San  Fernando  de  Nuevitas.  It  is  a  growing  little  place,  and 
is  becoming  the  depot  of  shipment  of  a  good  deal  of  the  sugar  and 
molasses  of  the  neighborhood,  as  well  as  of  large  quantities  of  hides. 

Sponge  and  Turtle-fishing. 

There  is  also  an  interesting  branch  of  commerce  pursued  here, 
though  not  amounting  to  a  very  large  trade.  This  is  the  sponge 
and  turtle-fishing,  carried  on  by  almost  an  entirely  distinct  set  of 
people  from  those  ashore.  The  sponges  are  those  mostly  used  on 
the  Island,  and  a  rough  calculation  estimates  the  annual  production 
at  one  hundred  thousand  dozen,  worth  one  dollar  per  dozen,  which 
is  quite  a  business  for  a  people  who  carry  it  on  as  they  do. 

The  turtle-shell  is  prepared  usually  for  export,  the  meat  being  sent 
to  the  markets  of  the  vicinity  in  which  the  turtles  are  caught.  It  is 
quite  an  amusing  sight  to  see  the  habitations  of  these  people,  dotting 
some  portions  of  the  bay,  and,  as  it  is  almost  perpetual  summer,  their 
life  is  not  a  very  unpleasant  one. 

Puerto  Principe  is  connected  with  Nuevitas  by  a  railroad  forty-five 
miles  long,  and  is,  probably,  the  oldest,  quaintest  town  on  the  Island 
— in  fact,  it  may  be  said  to  be  a  finished  town,  as  the  world  has  gone 
on  so  fast  that  the  place  seems  a  million  years  old,  and,  from  its  style 
of  dress,  a  visitor  might  think  he  was  put  back  almost  to  the  days  of 
Colon. 

The  road  to  the  town  runs  through  a  fine,  rolling  country,  afford 
ing  many  beautiful  views,  and,  from  the  hills  around  the  place  itself, 
not  only  the  town,  but  the  neighboring  country,  can  be  seen  to 
advantage.  But  may  heaven  help  you,  O  stranger !  if  you  wander 
to  Puerto  Principe  without  having  some  friends  to  depend  upon ;  for 


A   QUAINT   OLD   TOWN.  457 

it  is  sadly  deficient  in  hotels.  It  is,  probably,  for  this  reason  that  the 
Cubans,  as  a  people,  are  so  hospitable  that  they  will  not  allow  thei> 
friends  to  go  to  hotels,  and  even  to  strangers  who  have  been  pre 
sented  to  them  they  insist  on  showing  this  attention. 

Lest  we  be  misunderstood  in  relation  to  this  matter,  we  wish  to 
say  that  it  is  the  custom  in  Cuba  for  one  friend  visiting  the  town  of 
another  friend  to  stay  with  him  at  his  house,  the  kindness  being  re 
turned  as  occasion  demands  ;  and  no  one  having  the  slightest  claim 
to  a  courtesy  of  this  kind  need  hesitate  to  accept  it,  either  on  the 
plantations  or  in  the  interior  towns.  This  can  be  done  without  fear 
of  disturbing  the  hospitable  household  of  the  host,  for  he  gives  you 
what  he  has  himself,  and,  as  a  general  thing,  every  one  in  Cuba  lives 
in  a  free,  open-handed  way,  with  abundance  of  rooms,  servants,  and 
an  extremely  profuse  table. 

Cuban  Hospitality. 

In  many  cases,  too,  it  is  as  much  a  kindness  to  the  giver  of  the 
invitation  to  accept  it  as  for  him  to  extend  it,  for  the  simple  reason 
that  there  is  not  much  travel  or  intercourse  on  the  Island,  and  the 
stranger,  whether  from  some  other  part  of  the  Island  or  from  abroad, 
has  news  to  impart,  a  novelty  to  give,  or  business  to  transact  with  his 
host.  The  stranger  may  be  sure  the  courtesy  is  sincere  when  ex 
tended  with,  "  Frankly,  Senor,  I  wish  you  to  stay  with  me,  and  I 
shall  order  your  baggage  to  my  house." 

Santa  Maria  del  Puerto  Principe  is  situated  in  the  heart  of  the 
grazing  country,  from  which  business  it  derives  its  importance.  Its 
streets  are  narrow  and  tortuous,  many  of  them  entirely  unpaved  and 
without  sidewalks ;  its  buildings  comprise  several  queer  old  churches, 
various  convents,  large  quarters  for  the  troops,  a  tolerable  theatre, 
and  a  fine  lot  of  public  buildings  for  government  officers.  The  gene 
ral  style  of  architecture,  though  Cuban,  offers  many  peculiarities  to 
the  artist  or  antiquarian. 

This  town  has  always  been  looked  upon  with  suspicion  by  the  au 
thorities  on  account  of  the  strong  proclivities  its  people  had  for  insur 
rection  ;  and  its  sons  have  had  a  greater  or  smaller  share  in  almost 


458  A   QUAINT   OLD   TOWN. 

every  revolution  that  has  taken  place  in  the  Island.  It  has  received 
its  baptism  of  blood  in  the  cause  of  liberty  for  "  free  Cuba,"  having 
sustained  a  siege,  been  attacked,  and  almost  starved  out. 

Although  there  is  not  much  in  the  actual  town  to  occupy  the  trav 
eler,  the  surrounding  country  affords  fine  opportunities  for  studying 
some  peculiarities  of  the  Island  not  so  advantageously  seen  elsewhere 
as  here.  First  among  these  are  the  potreros. 

Potrero,  in  the  Castilian,  really  means  a  horse-herd,  a  pasture-farm; 
but  in  the  Cuban  dialect,  it  has  a  somewhat  different  meaning.  In 
the  early  days  of  Cuba  when  land  was  plenty  and  the  government 
liberal  in  the  disposition  of  it,  they  called  all  grounds  or  properties, 
whether  belonging  to  the  crown  or  to  private  persons,  used  for  the 
purpose  of  sheep-folds  or  cattle  herding,  haciendas  or  hatos. 

A  Cuban  Stock-farm. 

These  were  large  extents  of  ground,  of  circular  form,  with  a  radius 
of  over  nine  thousand  yards,  the  centre  of  which  only  was  marked 
out,  where  the  pens  and  buildings  were  usually  erected.  The  corral 
was  also  a  circular  tract,  one  quarter  the  above  size,  that  is  to  say, 
with  a  radius  of  four  thousand  five  hundred  yards,  intended  for  the 
care  of  smaller  cattle,  sheep,  pigs,  etc.  its  centre  being  also  marked 
by  the  hog-pen,  or  the  fences  of  the  sheep-folds. 

Owing  to  the  difficulty  of  always  laying  out  the  exact  lines 
(caused  by  the  location  of  woods),  the  surveyors  adopted  the  method 
of  describing  polygons,  with  a  large  number  of  sides,  each  of  which 
was  equivalent  to  so  many  yards.  The  spaces  left  between  these 
polygons,  almost  circular,  were  considered  as  the  property  of  the 
crown,  and  were  known  as  realengos. 

But  as  time  advanced,  and  the  government  kept  on  increasing  these 
gifts,  without  any  particular  reference  to  the  line  of  demarcation  in 
the  land,  many  centres  of  the  new  farms  or  folds  were  fixed  in  such 
a  manner  that,  in  drawing  their  boundary-lines  according  to  their 
radii,  they  cut  those  already  established,  one  new  circle  falling  within 
an  old  one,  creating  thereby  inextricable  confusion,  which  ended  in 
every  man  going  to  law  with  his  neighbor  about  the  boundary-lines; 


A   QUAINT   OLD   TOWN.  459 

and  from  this  came  the  belief  that  every  Cuban  had  a  farm  and  a 
lawsuit. 

Many  of  these  tracts  were  then,  by  the  decision  of  the  court> 
divided,  and  afterwards,  by  the  will  of  their  owners,  sub-divided  into 
small  lots,  appropriated  for  the  various  uses  of  cultivating  grain, 
raising  cattle  and  fruits,  while  others  were  again  cut  up  and  laid  out 
in  town  lots.  Out  of  these  divisions  came  all  the  different  rural 
establishments  known  as  cattle  farms,  farms  proper,  and  small  truck- 
gardens,  and  which,  under  various  names,  bother  the  stranger  or  the 
student  of  Cuban  life. 

The  largest  of  all  the  above  is  the  potrero,  where  cattle  are  raised, 
fed,  and  looked  after  with  care ;  while  in  the  corrales  they  are  left  to 
run  wild  in  every  direction,  getting  water  from  the  running  brooks, 
and  only  attended  to,  from  time  to  time,  by  the  keepers.  But  the 
potreros  are  large  places,  encircled  by  walls  of  stone  piled  up,  or 
stone-fences.  Not  only  the  cattle  of  the  place  are  taken  care  of,  but 
those  also  belonging  to  neighboring  ingenios,  or  farms,  are  fed  and 
attended  to. 

The  raising  of  cattle  is  a  very  profitable  business  indeed,  particu 
larly  as  no  attention  is  paid  to  the  fattening  of  beef,  but  the  cattle 
are  sold  just  as  they  are  thought  to  be  fit  for  market.  The  con 
sequence  is,  that  it  is  rare  indeed  that  a  piece  of  beef  fit  to  roast  is 
seen — at  least  as  we  know  it. 

It  is  a  great  sight  to  see  these  immense  herds  of  cattle,  scattered 
over  extensive  plains,  with  here  and  there  large  clumps  of  palm  or 
cocoa  trees  affording  shade,  while,  at  regular  intervals,  long  stone 
walls  serve  to  separate  the  herds.  Many  of  the  fiercest  bulls  used  in 
the  bull-ring  come  from  this  district;  and  when  so  noted  upon  the 
play-bills,  an  audience  is  sure  to  be  attracted  by  the  superior  "  sport " 
they  offer. 

Valuing  the  cattle  at  the  lowest  prices,  and  calculating  from  various 
reports  as  to  the  number  of  such  on  the  Island,  it  is  estimated  there 
is  represented,  by  the  stock  of  these  cattle-places  and  at  the  sugar 
and  coffee  estates  and  smaller  farms,  a  capital  of  twenty-one  millions 
of  dollars.  This  is  exclusive  of  horses  and  mules,  too,  of  which 


460  A   QUAINT  OLD   TOWN. 

there  are  large  numbers  raised  upon  the  Island,  the  value  of  which  k 
estimated  at  two  millions  of  dollars. 

At  one  time,  camels  were  introduced  into  the  Island,  in  the  hope 
that  they  would  answer  the  purposes  of  transportation  ;  but  they  did 
not  do  well,  for,  strange  to  say,  the  smallest  insect,  the  nigua,  that 
buries  itself  in  the  feet  and  there  procreates,  utterly  ruined  all  of  them. 

At  almost  all  of  these  places,  the  beef  is  cured  by  putting  it,  salted, 
in  the  sun,  and  it  then  is  known  as  tasajo  (jerked  beef) ;  and  prepared 
in  this  way,  it  will  keep  for  two  or  three  weeks,  being  used  princi 
pally  for  home  consumption,  that  which  is  prepared  for  market 
requiring  more  curing.  This  is  the  great  article  of  food  amongst  the 
masses  of  the  population,  and  is  found  sometimes  even  upon  the 
table  of  the  better  class,  when  no  strangers  are  present.  Large 
quantities  of  the  hides  of  the  cattle  are  exported,  while  the  bones 
are  made  into  "bone-black,"  of  which  immense  quantities  are 
required  by  the  sugar  manufacture  of  the  Island. 

Unique  Breed  of  Horses. 

From  Puerto  Principe  come,  also,  some  of  the  finest  horses  raised 
on  the  Island.  The  Cuban  horse  is  not  supposed  to  be  a  native 
either  of  the  Island  or  of  these  climes — in  fact,  if  we  believe  the 
accounts  of  the  early  discoverers,  the  animal  was  not  known  upon 
this  continent;  for,  in  every  case  when  the  natives  first  saw  a  horse, 
they  were  struck  dumb  with  astonishment,  showing  that  they  had 
never  seen  one  before. 

It  is,  therefore,  suspected  that  the  Cuban  horse  of  to-day,  peculiar 
breed  as  it  is,  is  simply  the  result  of  some  of  the  Spanish  stock  trans 
ferred  to  the  Island  and  affected  by  the  peculiarities  of  the  climate  in 
its  breeding.  At  all  events,  it  is  a  fine  animal  now,  with  a  short, 
stout,  well-built  body,  neat,  clear  limbs,  fine,  intelligent  eyes,  with  a 
gait  for  long  journeys  under  the  saddle  not  to  be  surpassed.  These 
horses  have  sturdy  necks,  heavy  manes,  and  thick  tails,  and,  seen  on 
the  plains,  where  they  are  raised,  and  before  being  handled  and 
dressed,  they  present  a  very  rough  and  wild  appearance.  Their  gait 
Js  something  peculiar,  it  would  seem,  to  themselves;  and  on  a  well- 


A   QUAINT  OLD   TOWN.  461 

broken  horse  the  greatest  novice  in  the  art  of  riding  need  not  hesitate 
to  mount. 

The  marcha,  or  fast  walk,  is  simply  the  easiest  gate  in  the  way  of 
a  walk ;  and  el paso,  or  the  rapid  gait  of  the  horse,  is  something  like 
the  movement  of  our  pacing  horses,  or,  as  they  call  it  in  the  Southern 
States,  a  single-footed  rack,  only  it  is  a  great  deal  more  easy.  Some 
of  the  horses  have  a  movement  so  gentle  that  a  rider  can  carry  a  full 
glass  of  water  without  spilling.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  the  Cuban 
horses  are  so  much  admired  by  lady  travelers  fond  of  horseback 
riding,  for  they  can  ride  miles  and  miles  without  experiencing  the 
slightest  fatigue. 

If  we  were  to  tell  all  the  wonderful  stories  about  the  performances 
of  these  horses,  the  reader  would  be  incredulous ;  but  this  we  can 
say,  that,  day  after  day,  the  Cuban  horse  will  journey  from  forty-five 
to  sixty  miles  without  showing  the  slightest  sign  of  giving  out,  and 
on  forced  rides,  seventy  to  eighty  miles  is  no  unusual  occurrence. 

Plaited  Tails  and  Fancy  Ribbands. 

The  price  varies,  according  to  circumstances,  and  it  is  amusing  to 
see  with  what  care  those  owned  by  wealthy  people  are  treated. 
Owing  to  the  sticky  nature  of  the  mud  of  the  country  roads,  it  has 
been  the  custom  to  plait  the  tails  of  all  the  horses  (the  end  being 
fastened  to  a  ring  in  the  cantle  of  the  saddle),  and  to  crop  the  manes. 
But  in  the  cities,  especially,  is  great  display  made  in  plaiting  the  tail 
with  fancy  ribbands,  and  the  mane  is  trimmed  with  mathematical  pre 
cision. 

Judging  from  experience,  we  should  say  that  all  Cuban  horses  were 
good,  even-tempered  animals.  The  Cubans  explain  this  by  saying 
that  the  horse  is  one  of  the  family,  as  in  town  he  is  kept  in  some  por 
tion  of  the  patio,  usually  near  the  kitchen,  and  in  the  country  he  is 
treated  with  even  more  familiarity. 

One  of  the  first  things  in  a  Cuban  house  that  strikes  the  stranger 
with  its  novelty  is  the  guava  with  cheese,  which  may  mean  either 
guava  jelly  or  marmalade ;  and  from  this  universal  custom,  one  wishes 
to  know  what  is  this  guava  they  make  so  much  use  of ;  and  as  Puerto 


4G2  A   QUAINT  OLD   TOWN. 

Principe  is  a  place  noted  for  its  manufacture,  we  will  give  here  a  de 
scription  of  it. 

In  some  of  the  towns  of  Cuba,  such  as  Trinidad,  Santiago  de  Cuba, 
and  Puerto  Principe  there  is  a  class  of  women  remarkable  for  their 
beauty,  whose  race  it  would  be  hard  for  the  stranger  to  tell,  with  any 
degree  of  certainty — some  appearing  even  lighter  in  color  than  Cubans; 
others,  again,  like  the  far-famed  octaroons  of  Louisiana ;  and  still 
others,  of  the  light  mulatto  order — all  resembling  each  other,  how 
ever,  in  the  wonderful  blackness  and  brilliancy  of  their  eyes,  the  jet  of 
their  hair,  and  a  certain  indescribable  grace  of  outline  and  movement 
of  figure,  having  in  it  a  dash  of  that  voluptuous  languor  that  we 
believe  peculiar  to  the  Orient. 

Makers  of  Sweetmeats. 

Who  they  are,  and  what  their  fathers  and  mothers  have  been,  it 
would  be  hard  to  say.  Some  of  them,  however,  claim  to  have 
11  gentle  blood  "  running  in  their  veins,  and,  if  appearances  are  worth 
anything,  with  good  reason.  Be  that  as  it  may,  they  are  the  seam 
stresses,  very  often  the  lady's  maids,  but  more  frequently  the  manu 
facturers  of  the  delicious  preserve  known  as  "  Jalea  "  and  "  Pasta  de 
Guayaba" 

The  dulce  or  sweetmeat  of  guava,  then,  is  of  two  kinds, — the  jelly, 
a  pure,  translucent,  garnet-colored  substance,  similar  to  our  currant- 
jelly  ;  and  the  marmalade,  an  opaque,  soft  substance,  similar  to  good 
quince  marmalade,  and  of  about  the  same  color,  or  darker. 

Both  of  these  are  made  from  the  same  fruit,  though  prepared  in  a 
different  way ;  and  there  are  also  two  kinds  of  the  fruit, — one  known 
as  the  guayaba  del  Peru,  which  is  very  scarce,  and  the  other,  guayabas 
cotorreras,  the  common  red  apple-bearing  tree,  which  is  the  one  most 
found  in  Cuba ;  the  fruit  of  the  former  being  of  a  greenish  color  in 
the  inside,  while  that  of  the  latter  is  either  red,  yellow,  or  white. 

The  fruit  is  small  and  edible,  having  a  fragrant  but  peculiar  odor, 
and  a  sweetish  taste  ;  and  the  making  of  the  jelly  is  an  extremely 
simple  operation,  as  follows  :  The  fruit  is  cut  in  halves,  and  separated 
from  the  seeds;  then  gently  stewed;  then  the  sugar,  thoroughly  boiled 


A   QUAINT  OLD   TOWN.  463 

to  a  syrup,  is  cleared.  The  guava  is  now  strained  through  a  bag, 
and  the  juice  only  being  united  with  the  syrup,  it  is  all  boiled  until 
it  reaches  a  proper  state  of  consistency,  when  it  is  taken  out,  put 
into  moulds  of  the  different-sized  boxes  required,  and  allowed  to  cool 
and  get  firm,  when  it  is  placed  in  long,  shallow  boxes  of  various 
sizes,  lined  with  paper,  then  closed  up,  papered  to  keep  out  the  air, 
and  labeled  for  market. 

A  Rare  Delicacy. 

The  paste  is  made  in  the  same  way,  except  that  only  the  seeds  are 
taken  out,  and  the  whole  fruit  incorporated  with  the  syrup  is  used  to 
make  the  marmalade,  which  by  many  is  considered  the  richer  for  that 
reason.  To  any  who  have  ever  tasted  the  guava  jelly  it  needs  no 
recommendation ;  but  to  those  who  have  not,  and  who  wish  a  "  new 
sensation,"  we  advise  them  to  try  it,  being  careful,  however,  to  buy 
the  small,  flat  boxes,  which  are  the  best,  the  round  boxes  usually 
being  filled  with  very  poor  stuff.  Large  quantities  of  this  sweet 
meat  are  exported  each  year,  and  there  are  many  manufactories  of  it 
in  Havana;  the  best,  however,  comes  from  Puerto  Principe  and 
Trinidad. 

Hot  as  it  may  be  in  Cuba,  there  is  some  way  of  keeping  cool. 
You  can  get  up  in  the  morning,  when  the  breeze  is  always  fresh  and 
strong,  transact  your  business,  and  return  to  your  breakfast,  where, 
in  some  sweet-si  idling,  flowered  court-yard,  you  can,  by  keeping 
quiet,  and,  with  the  aid  of  refreshing  drinks,  keep  cool.  The  after 
noons  bring  the  delicious  sea-breeze,  that  carries  with  it  new  life  for 
the  paseo,  or  the  music  in  the  evening.  But  your  landlady  cautions 
you,  as  you  sit  in  your  room,  looking  out  upon  the  blue  sea,  where 
lies,  far  away,  your  northern  home,  "  Not  to  make  any  «?oise."  You 
ask:  "Why?" 

"  Because  there  is  a  poor,  sick  stranger  in  the  next  room." 

"  Is  he  very  sick  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  he  will  go  away  in  a  day  or  two." 

"  What's  the  matter  with  him  ?  " 

"  He  has  a  very  bad  case  of  yellow  fever." 


464  A   QUAINT  OLD   TOWN. 

Notwithstanding  you  are  told  that  you  are  not  a  fit  subject  for 
the  fever — that  there  is  no  danger,  you  think  it  just  as  well  to  antici 
pate  your  neighbor's  departure,  particularly  as  Havana  is  no  longer 
the  gay  place  it  was  early  in  the  winter.  The  opera  season  is  over, 
the  circus  is  closed,  and  even  the  bull-fights  offer  no  attraction.  The 
hotels,  where  once  during  the  past  months  it  was  a  hard  matter  to  get 
lodging-room,  are  now  dull  and  deserted,  and  the  long,  gaunt  faces 
and  bearded  chins  of  Americans  are  no  longer  seen  in  the  cool  pre 
cincts  of  the  Louvre,  sipping  their  cobblers  or  cold  rum-punches. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
Here  and  There  in  Cuba. 

IF  the  traveler  in  Cuba  desires  to  see  its  most  beautiful  portions, 
and  also  some  of  its  prettiest,  quietest  towns,  he  will  do  well  to 

make  a  trip  along  the  south  coast,  from  Batabano  to  Santiago 
de  Cuba,  stopping  at  Trinidad,  and,  if  he  likes,  taking  the  steamer  at 
Santiago  home  to  the  States.  Or  if  he  desires  to  visit  the  British 
West  Indies,  he  can  do  so  by  means  of  the  French  steamers  running 
from  that  place. 

The  trip  is  a  very  enjoyable  one,  even  for  ladies,  the  boats  are  large 
and  fine,  and  the  accommodations  on  board  them  excellent ;  the  voy 
age  is  as  pleasant  and  beautiful  as  a  summer  trip  on  the  Hudson,  or 
as  a  sail  on  Lake  George,  the  sea  being  generally  as  calm  as  a  lake. 
With  a  good  party  and  plenty  of  light  reading  it  is  as  agreeable  a  trip 
as  can  be  taken. 

Leaving  Havana  at  5.45  in  the  morning,  the  traveler  reaches 
Batabano  at  8  o'clock,  and  goes  immediately  on  board  one  of  the 
steamers  lying  at  the  wharf;  and  he  should  immediately  see  the 
cabin-boy  and  make  his  choice  of  a  stateroom,  which  should  always 
be  taken  in  the  upper  cabin,  if  one  can  get  it  there.  An  eye  after 
one's  baggage  will  not  be  amiss  now,  for  they  do  sometimes  make 
mistakes. 

And  now  we  are  afloat  and  have  time  to  look  about  us,  and  we 
already  feel  quite  at  home  from  finding  the  boat  and  machinery  are 
c<  Yankee  notions,"  being  made  either  in  New  York  or  Philadelphia, 
while  the  cheerful  looks  and  courteous  manners  of  the  passengers 
demonstrate  that  we  are  in  good  company.  Acquaintance  will  be 
easy  if  the  traveler  is  able  to  speak  any  Spanish  ;  if  not,  all  he  has  to 
do  is  to  look  pleasant,  like  the  rest  of  the  people,  and  watch  his 
chance  of  finding  some  one  who  speaks  English,  and  who  will  be 

30  40f> 


466  HERE  AND   THERE   IN   CUBA. 

delighted  to  explain  to  the  stranger,  in  his  own  tongue,  the  beauties 
of  the  Cuban  shore. 

Ten  o'clock,  and  there  goes  the  breakfast  bell.  No  hurry,  gentle 
men,  everybody  is  provided  for,  and  there  is  none  of  that  scrambling 
and  struggling  for  a  seat  at  the  table,  so  disgraceful  to  us  Americans 
on  our  boats ;  no,  everything  here  is  quiet  and  orderly,  and  ladies  go 
leisurely  to  their  table  in  the  upper  cabin,  and  the  men  to  theirs 
arranged  in  a  cool  place  on  the  main  deck. 

Now  you  will  want  your  Spanish  bill  of  fare,  for  the  table  is  boun 
tifully  supplied  with  the  best  of  food  cooked  in  the  best  Spanish 
fashion,  while  there  is  an  ample  supply  of  ice  and  vino  Catalan  to  wash 
it  down  with ;  don't  hurry,  either,  my  friend,  these  people  don't  pro 
pose  to  make  a  labor  of  what  should  always  be  a  pleasure. 

Bold  Coast  and  Rocky  Islands. 

The  coast  for  some  distance  after  leaving  Batabano  is  quite  low, 
and  generally  marshy ;  but,  on  nearing  Cienfuegos,  it  gets  higher  and 
even  mountainous.  To  the  right,  some  distance  from  the  coast,  and 
inside  of  which  the  steamer  always  keeps  on  her  passage,  are  low 
keys  or  rocky  islets,  known  as  Los  Jardines,  and  likely  to  prove  very 
dangerous  to  the  navigator,  if  not  acquainted  with  their  locality. 

Many  of  the  passengers,  after  breakfast,  seat  themselves  at  a  table 
with  the  game  called  "  Loto,"  at  which  they  all  gamble  more  or  less. 
Even  the  chambermaid  is  a  party  to  the  gambling  speculation,  for 
she  goes  about  the  boat  offering  you  a  ticket  in  a  raffle  for  a  gold 
watch,  or  something  else,  and  finding  as  many  purchasers  among  the 
ladies  as  among  the  men.  And  so  the  day  slips  round,  and  we  have 
the  beauties  of  a  moonlight  night  in  a  tropic  sea,  which  add  vastly 
to  our  pleasure  before  turning  in  for  the  night  into  our  cane-bottomed 
berth,  over  which  is  simply  thrown  a  sheet — a  capital  idea  for  boats 
in  warm  weather,  for  such  beds,  being  cool  and  quite  elastic,  are  most 
comfortable. 

We  arrive  off  the  harbor  of  Cienfuegos  some  time  during  the 
night,  but  as  vessels  are  not  allowed  to  enter  any  of  the  ports  of  the 
Island  at  night,  particularly  during  war  times,  we  have  to  wait  until 


• 

HERE  AND   THERE   IN   CUBA.  467 

daybreak,  when  we  get  under  weigh  and  enter  that  beautiful  port  by 
the  light  of  the  rising  sun.  The  bay  is  a  very  extensive  one,  the  en 
trance  itself  being  quite  narrow,  with  a  lighthouse  on  the  extreme 
point,  and  stone  forts  upon  the  adjacent  hills  at  the  mouth,  none  of 
which  appear  to  be  very  strong. 

Anchorage  for  Large  Vessels. 

The  bay  has  anchorage  for  vessels  of  the  largest  class,  while  the 
high  hills  that  surround  it  afford  ample  shelter  from  any  stormy  winds 
that  may  blow.  It  was  this  bay  that  Columbus  visited  on  his  first 
voyage,  and  Padre  las  Casas,  in  speaking  of  it,  calls  it  the  most  mag 
nificent  port  in  the  world,  comprising  within  its  shores  six  square 
leagues.  Herrera,  also,  describing  the  port  and  bay  of  Cienfuegos, 
as  seen  by  Ocampo  in  a  voyage  round  the  Island,  says  :  "  There  was 
Ocampo  very  much  at  his  ease,  well  served  by  the  Indians  with  an 
infinite  number  of  partridges,  like  those  of  Castile,  except  some 
what  smaller.  He  had  also  abundance  of  fish  (lisas,  skate).  They 
took  them  from  this  natural  fish-pond,  where  there  were  millions 
of  them  just  as  safe  as  if  they  were  in  a  tank  attached  to  one's 
home." 

The  steamer  reaches  the  wharf  about  six  o'clock,  and,  as  she  re 
mains  until  eleven,  the  traveler  has  ample  time  to  go  ashore  and  see 
the  town  or  try  the  excellent  oysters,  of  which  they  have  large  quan 
tities.  Probably  no  place  on  the  Island  offers  greater  advantages  for 
seeing  sugar-making  in  its  most  favorable  aspects  than  Cienfuegos,  as 
it  is  surrounded  by  an  immense  cane-growing  district,  with  some  of 
the  best  estates  on  the  Island. 

Still,  keeping  close  to  the  coast,  we  begin  to  see  some  of  its  moun 
tainous  beauties ;  for,  sailing  within  a  mile  or  two  of  the  shore,  we 
have  a  constantly  changing  panorama  of  green  hills,  that  come  down 
to  the  very  water's  edge,  while,  in  the  distance,  they  stretch  away 
until  some  of  their  tops  appear  to  be  holding  up  the  heavens. 

We  know  not  if  Tennyson  was  ever  in  the  tropics  in  person,  but 
he  must  have  been  there  in  mind  when  he  wrote,  as  though  filled 
with  their  ardor : 


4(58  HERE  AND  THERE  IN  CUBA. 

"  Oh,  hundred  shores  of  happy  climes, 

How  swiftly  streamed  ye  by  the  bark ! 
At  times  the  whole  sea  burned  ;  at  times, 

With  wakes  of  fire  we  tore  the  dark ; 
At  times  a  craven  craft  would  shoot 

From  heavens  hid  in  fairy  bowers, 
With  naked  limbs  and  flowers  and  fruit, 

But  we  nor  paused  for  fruits  nor  flowers/' 

Breaking  in  upon  our  romantic  musings  comes  the  sound  of  the 
hand-bell,  and  we  wonder  what  it  can  be  for.  Our  late  breakfast  was 
over  only  an  hour  or  so  ago.  It  cannot  be  anything  to  eat ;  no, 
innocents,  it  is  only  something  to  drink,  in  the  shape  of  frescos, 
which  may  be  made  either  of  lemons  or  oranges,  placed  nice  and 
cold,  in  large  pitchers,  for  you  to  help  yourself  to  at  discretion. 

Small  Hands  and  Ruby  Lips. 

It  is  an  attractive  sight  to  see  these  pretty  Cuban  women  sipping 
their  frescos,  holding  the  glasses  to  their  ruby  lips  with  the  smallest 
hands  imaginable;  while,  perhaps,  peeping  out  from  beneath  their 
dresses,  are  the  tiny  feet  for  which  they  are  celebrated,  evidently 
never  intended  by  nature  to  walk  on.  "  To  be  sure  "  (we  think  we 
hear  some  uncharitable  lady  reader  say),  "  if  I  made  as  little  use  of 
my  hands  and  feet  as  they  do,  I  could  have  such  trifling  appendages." 
Nevertheless,  they  are  very  pretty,  and  we  think  most  of  the 
Senoritas  are  positively  aware  of  the  fact,  from  the  way  they  display 
them. 

About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  we  arrive  in  sight  of  those 
high  and  beautiful  mountains  of  Trinidad,  a  continuation  and  part  of 
the  range  which  we  have  been  seeing  all  day,  known  as  the  "  Guana- 
huya ; "  and,  at  last,  we  see  Trinidad — beautiful  Trinidad — on  this 
balmy  south  coast,  which,  seen  from  some  distance  out  at  sea,  looks, 
as  it  lies  far  up  the  mountain  side,  its  white  walls  glistening  in  the 
golden  light,  like  a  babe  nestling  on  its  mother's  breast.  It  takes 
some  time  to  get  up  to  its  port,  for  in  front  of  the  bay  there  is  a  large 
narrow  point  of  land,  which,  with  the  main  land,  forms  the  bay  and 
port  of  Casilda. 


HERE   AND   THERE    IN    CUBA.  469 

Reaching  this,  we  steam  around  the  point,  and  then,  retracing  our 
course  in  the  direction  from  which  we  have  come,  we  see,  upon  the 
shore  of  this  beautiful  bay,  the  little  village  of  Casilda,  which  is  the 
port  of  entrance  for  Trinidad.  There  are  two  other  ports  of  entrance, 
though  not  in  use — that  of  "  La  Boca,"  to  the  south-west,  where 
empties  the  river  Tayabo,  and  that  of  the  river  Muse,  to  the  south 
east. 

The  anchorage  in  the  bay  is  not  a  very  good  one,  as  the  water  is 
so  shallow  that  it  necessitates  the  loading  of  vessels  by  lighters, 
unless  they  happen  to  be  quite  small.  The  town  has  quite  an  ex 
tensive  series  of  wharves  and  warehouses,  the  principal  portion  of  the 
shipping  business  being  done  down  here,  though  the  town  itself  is  a 
straggling  village,  with  a  few  large  warehouses  and  the  depot  of  the 
railroad  which  connects  it  with  Trinidad. 

A  Hotel  in  Trinidad. 

If  the  traveler  can  find  a  volante,  we  would  advise  him  to  take 
that  and  ride  up,  unless  the  cars  are  ready  to  start,  for  sometimes 
there  is  a  delay  of  several  hours  after  the  arrival  of  the  boat,  before 
the  train  gets  off,  and  as  the  distance  is  only  three  miles,  over  a  good 
road,  with  beautiful  views,  it  is  quite  as  pleasant  to  go  in  a  volante  as 
in  the  cars,  though  somewhat  more  expensive.  It  is  an  ascent  all 
the  way. 

One  is  not  very  greatly  struck  with  the  appearance  of  the  town  of 
Trinidad  upon  getting  out  at  the  depot,  for  the  streets  lying  immedi 
ately  in  its  neighborhood  are  anything  but  attractive,  though  they 
are  rather  antique  and  rugged,  looking  as  if  you  had  come  to  some 
third-rate  village. 

One  has  to  look  out  now  for  his  own  baggage,  engaging  a  cart  to 
carry  it,  and  seeing  himself  that  it  is  put  upon  the  cart,  which  is  then 
driven  to  the  designated  hotel.  Generally  there  is  not  much  choice 
of  hotels  in  Trinidad,  and  the  best  way  is  to  examine  all  of  them  that 
are  tolerable  enough  to  go  to,  before  deciding. 

Says  a  traveler,  speaking  of  a  large  boarding-house  :  "  Our  first 
experience  there  was  very  amusing.  After  securing  our  room,  we 


470  HERE  AND  THERE  IN   CUBA. 

ordered  the  waiter  to  provide  us  a  dinner,  hot,  good,  and  as  quickly 
as  possible,  which  instructions  were  received  with  a  frequent  '  St, 
Se  or,  warm  and  quickly,  Senor.'  A  few  minutes  finds  us  seated  at 
table,  and  prepared  to  enjoy  the  said  dinner. 

"  '  Serve  the  soup,  waiter/ 

'"There  is  none,  Senor;  there  is  theatre  to-night,  sir/ 

"  We  try  the  fish.    '  Why,  confound  it,  this  fish  is  as  cold  as  a  stone.' 

" '  Yes,  Senor,  do  you  go  to  the  theatre  to-night?' 

"  '  Hang  the  theatre,  we  want  dinner !     What  else  have  you  ?* 

" '  Salad  and  meat,  Senor/ 

"  We  try  the  oil ;  it  is  bad.  The  meat  turns  out  to  be  pork.  Wfe 
are  hungrily,  furiously  angry  by  this  time,  and,  jumping  up  from  the 
table,  we  ask  if  we  can  have  a  dinner  or  not. 

" '  But,  Senor,  I  am  going  to  the  theatre  to-night ;,  are  you  not 
going?' 

"'Hang  the  theatre!'  we  roared,  thinking  the  man  was  crazy, 
'  bring  out  our  baggage  and  (in  a  theatrical  manner)  we  will  go 
hence/ 

"Waiter  (humbly,  but  sullenly):  'If  the  gentlemen  will  wait  I  will 
warm  the  fish,  and  give  them  some  good  oil.  I  have  some  most 
splendid  boiled  ham,  with  some  fine  fruit ;  and  if  the  gentlemen  will 
have  patience  till  to-morrow,  they  shall  live  like  lords/ 

"  We  relent,  having  no  other  place  to  go  to,  and  make  a  tolerably 
fair  meal,  but  the  climax  was  reached  next  morning,  when,  having 
had  an  elegant  breakfast,  at  which  mine  host  was  present,  I  remarked 
to  him,  '  We  are  glad  to  see  that  you  do  have  good  meals  here  some 
times  ;  our  dinner  of  yesterday  was  a  disgrace  to  your  house,  sir/ 

"  '  Yes,'  he  replied,  very  coolly,  '  I  know  it  was,  it  was  that  boy's 
fault  (pointing  to  the  waiter);  he  wanted  to  go  to  the  theatre  on  a 
free  ticket/ 

"  The  waiter  makes  some  deprecatory  remark. 

" '  You  lie,  scoundrel,'  said  the  old  man,  with  much  vim,  '  I  heard 
you/ 

"  '  Why,  where  were  you  ? '  I  asked,  rather  astonished  that,  as  he 
had  heard  the  row,  he  had  not  made  his  appearance. 


HERE  AND   THERE   IN   CUBA.  471 

" '  In  the  room  there,  lying  down/ 

" '  Well,  why  did  you  not  come  out  and  attend  to  your  guests  ?' 

"  *  No  valia  la  pena '  (it  wasn't  worth  while),  in  a  perfectly  innocent 
manner  ;  <  the  boy  wanted  to  go  to  the  theatre.'  " 

Trinidad  de  Cuba  is  a  pretty,  rambling,  hilly  town,  of  about  fifteen 
thousand  inhabitants,  situated  on  the  side  of  the  mountain  of  the  Vijia 
(watch  tower),  and  elevated  about  four  hundred  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  sea,  from  which  it  is  distant  some  six  miles,  and  from  Havana, 
by  land,  about  two  hundred  and  seventy  miles. 

A  Fertile  Country  with  Grand  Scenery. 

Exposed  to  the  combined  breezes  of  sea  and  mountain,  with  a  most 
delicious  climate,  it  is  reputed  to  be  the  healthiest  town  upon  the 
Island,  while,  from  its  beautiful  situation  in  a  rich  and  fertile  country, 
its  exquisitely  grand  and  extended  views,  the  beauty  of  its  lovely 
maidens,  and  the  general  hospitality  of  its  inhabitants,  it  would  be, 
were  there  only  a  good  hotel,  the  most  attractive  town  upon  the 
Island  for  the  sojourn  of  the  invalid  traveler.  Here  one  can  find 
quiet,  kindness,  and  every  inducement  for  taking  pleasant  exercise  in 
the  way  of  walks,  rides  and  drives. 

Historically,  we  don't  know  that  it  has  much  to  interest  the  general 
traveler,  and  yet  it  was  here  that  that  "  gay  Lothario,"  gallant  adven 
turer,  and  sagacious  but  cruel  conqueror,  Hernan  Cortez,  came 
after  parting  with  his  uncertain  employer  and  governor,  Velasquez, 
of  whom  he  took  "  French  leave/'  with  all  the  vessels  and  men  fitted 
out  for  the  conquest  of  Mexico;  here  it  was,  too,  that  he  added 
means  and  men  to  that  same  expedition,  the  history  of  which  seems, 
at  the  present  reading,  like  some  wondrous  fairy  tale. 

Trinidad  is  also  one  of  the  oldest  towns  on  the  Island,  having  been 
settled  by  Diego  Velasquez  in  1513,  and  suffered  in  its  earlier  days, 
like  many  other  Cuban  towns,  from  various  attacks  of  pirates  and 
enemies,  one  of  which  was  made,  in  1702,  by  the  English  corsair 
Grant,  who,  with  three  hundred  men,  invaded  the  town,  and  made 
good  his  retreat,  without  suffering  for  his  intrepidity.  The  bay  of 
Casilda  is  also  famous  as  being  the  battle-ground  of  three  British 


472  HERE  AND   THERE   IN   CUBA. 

men-of-war  with  the  Spaniards,  under  Don  Luis  Bassecourt,  whose 
command  consisted  of  militia  and  a  few  veteran  pickets;  but  the 
English  were  compelled,  nothwithstanding,  to  withdraw  after  three 
days'  fighting. 

The  streets  of  the  city  are,  with  some  exceptions,  narrow  and  tor 
tuous,  and  many  of  those  upon  the  edge  of  the  town  entirely  unpaved, 
while  the  houses  in  the  best  streets  are  generally  comfortable,  well- 
built,  stone  houses,  some  of  which  are  really  magnificent  private 
edifices. 

Peculiarities  of  the  Houses. 

The  houses  of  Trinidad  differ  from  those  in  Havana  in  not  having 
dividing  walls  to  separate  the  dining  room  and  the  saloon,  but  in 
their  place  they  have,  generally,  open  stone  arches,  which,  while  sepa 
rating  the  apartments  in  some  degree,  yet  add  to  their  beauty  and 
comfort  by  permitting  a  free  circulation  of  air  and  affording  a  charm 
ing  prospective  of  marble  floors,  mirrored  arches,  and  richly  fur 
nished  rooms.  Some  of  the  streets  are  quite  odd  in  their  appear 
ance,  with  their  rough  tiled  houses,  their  narrow  pavements,  and  the 
funny  names  which  are  seen,  just  as  in  Havana,  stuck  up  over  the 
store  doors. 

The  "  Campo  de  Marte  "  is  a  fine  large  place  at  the  southeast  end 
of  the  town,  with  barracks  and  drill-grounds  for  the  troops.  But  the 
plaza,  par  excellence,  of  Trinidad,  and  in  fact  of  all  Cuba,  for  it  is  cer 
tainly  a  most  gracefully  beautiful  square,  is  known  as  the  "  Plaza  de 
Carillo,"  situated  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  and  opposite 
which  is  the  governor's  house. 

The  square  is  most  beautifully  laid  out,  with  vines  and  shrubbery 
shading  the  stone  walks,  on  either  side  of  which  is  a  profusion  of 
flowers,  while  in  the  centre  of  the  square  there  is  erected  a  graceful 
dome-like  arbor,  completely  covered  with  flowering  vines.  Extend 
ing  around  the  square  is  a  broad  stone  paseo,  which  is  separated 
from  the  main  garden  by  a  tasty  iron  railing,  and  from  the  street  by  a 
stone  base.  A  profusion  of  gas-lights  are  ranged  at  intervals  around 
the  square,  which  at  night,  when  illuminated,  have  a  most  beautiful 
effect. 


HERE  AND   THERE  IN   CUBA.  473 

The  square  is  always  open,  but  the  retreta  is  only  about  three 
times  a  week,  one  of  those  times  being  Sunday.  On  such  occasions 
the  plaza  is  brilliantly  lighted,  and  the  music,  the  soft  breezes,  and 
the  delicious  fragrance  of  the  flowers,  are  enjoyed  by  throngs  of  "fair 
women  and  brave  men."  The  Vijia  is  probably  the  greatest  attrac 
tion  to  the  town  proper,  for  no  matter  how  often  we  go  up,  there  is 
always  some  new  beauty  discovered,  either  in  land,  or  sea,  or  sky. 
It  is  very  easily  reached  on  horseback,  to  its  very  top ;  is  a  pleasant 
walk  before  breakfast,  or  can  be  easily  gained  by  elderly  people  in  a 
volante,  which  can  go  nearly  to  the  top.  No  one,  however,  can  be 
said  to  have  seen  La  Vijia  who  has  not  visited  it  both  at  sunrise  and 
sunset;  let  us  try  it. 

Scene  of  Wonderful  Beauty. 

It  is  a  fine  bracing  morning,  and,  having  had  our  bath  and  coffee, 
we  sally  out  at  the  door  of  our  hotel,  and  find  in  the  dusky  morning 
(it  is  not  yet  daybreak)  our  horses,  ordered  the  previous  evening, 
awaiting  our  coming ;  they  are  not  "  much,"  but  they  will  do  to  carry 
us  up  the  hill.  So,  mounting,  we  wind  through  various  streets  of  the 
upper  town,  and  come  out  at  last  by  the  rustic  road  leading  past  the 
military  hospital,  which  is  about  half-way  up  the  mountain. 

Leaving  these  below  us,  we  strike  a  rough,  steep  road,  ascending 
which  we  get  far  above  the  town,  and  begin  to  take  in  something  of 
the  vast  scene,  which  at  this  early  hour  of  the  morning  is  somewhat 
indistinct.  Higher  and  higher  we  go  at  a  slow  pace,  until  at  last  we 
reach  the  top,  where  is  a  small  house  or  hut  in  which  lives  the  signal 
man,  and  in  front  of  which  is  the  mast  where  signals  are  made  to  the 
town  below,  of  any  approaching  vessels.  Here  we  leave  our  horses, 
and  on  foot  proceed  by  a  path  leading  beyond  the  house,  that  takes 
us  to  the  very  summit. 

What  a  scene  bursts  upon  us  here !  We  seem  to  be  on  a  high 
point,  around  which  are  vast  seas  of  mist  and  vapor,  that,  floating  far 
below  us,  look  like  grand  lakes,  while  some,  not  so  distant,  are  yet 
more  opaque,  resembling  solid  fields  of  cotton ;  but  now  over  the 
distant  eastern  hills,  the  first  rays  of  the  rising  sun  begin  to  shed 


474  HERE  AND   THERE   IN   CUBA. 

their  light,  and,  gradually  getting  higher  and  higher,  the  orb  of  day 
rises,  in  all  its  magnificence  of  blazing  golden  glory,  over  the  top  of 
the  neighboring  mountain. 

The  scene  now  rapidly  changes,  the  vast  bodies  of  vapor  that  hung 
like  a  pall  over  the  whole  face  of  the  lower  valley,  are  now  rapidly  dis 
solved  by  the  warm  rays  of  the  risen  sun,  and  then  we  have  unfolded 
to  our  astonished  vision,  piece  by  piece,  the  loveliest  bits  of  hill  and 
dale,  of  fields  of  waving  cane,  as  bright  and  green  as  the  emerald 
water  of  the  ocean  itself.  The  neighboring  hills,  too,  in  their  glitter 
ing  and  verdure-clad  robes,  deign  to  appear,  one  by  one,  gorgeously 
gilded  by  the  morning  sun. 

Turning  to  the  south  we  have  the  town  and  the  country  between 
it  and  the  sea  clearly  defined,  while  beyond  is  the  sea  itself  extend 
ing  its  blue  waters  until  lost  in  the  hazy  clouds  of  the  distant  heavens  ; 
and  this  scene  is  not  the  same  with  every  morning,  for  there  is  always 
some  difference  of  light  and  atmosphere  that  gives  a  changing  beauty 
to  the  views. 

Magnificent  Sunset  View. 

The  scene  is  changed ;  it  is  now  the  evening  hour  of  sunset,  and 
seated  upon  the  rocks  we  gaze  at  the  same  scenes  in  a  different  light. 
Everything  is  quiet  and  peaceful — not  a  sound  is  heard  from  the 
great  world  below.  We  see  the  people  moving  like  mere  specks  in 
the  streets  of  the  town — even  the  trains  of  cars,  winding  swiftly  over 
the  long  black  trail,  look  like  small  boxes  endowed  with  some  super 
natural  power  of  motion,  for  we  hear  no  noise  of  engines. 

We  look  up  the  valley,  and  from  clumps  of  green  foliage  shoot  up 
here  and  there  the  tall  white  chimneys  of  the  sugar  mills,  puffing  out 
their  black  smoke,  which  rises  in  clouds,  higher  and  higher  until  it 
vanishes  away  into  air ;  the  little  stream  that  wanders  between  its 
wooded  banks  looks,  as  we  catch  a  glimpse  of  it  here  and  there,  like 
a  silver  ribband.  And  then  the  sea,  too,  as  blue  as  blue  can  be,  with 
not  a  perceptible  ripple  on  its  surface,  but  quiet  as  a  lake,  while  a 
white  sail  here  and  there  seems  to  make  a  boundary  between  sea  and 
sky,  which  latter  is  assuming  all  those  beautiful  golden  crimson  tints 


HERE   AND   THERE   IN   CUBA.  475 

peculiar  to  a  tropical  sunset,  and  yet  so  beautifully  graduated  one 
into  the  other  that  it  is  hard  to  say  where  the  blue  leaves  off  and  the 
gold  and  grander  tints  begin. 

But  hark,  even  now  there  is  a  sound — a  quiet  soft  musical  sound — 
that  comes  stealing  up  the  valley  as  the  sun  is  slowly  going  down, 
and  which  truly  harmonizes  with  the  scene, — the  vesper  bell.  How 
apropos  the  lines  of  Byron  to  such  a  scene,  and  such  an  hour  as  this : 

"  Sweet  hour  of  twilight ! 

Soft  hour  which  wakes  the  wish  and  melts  the  heart 
Of  those  who  sail  the  seas,  on  the  first  day 
When  they  from  their  sweet  friends  are  torn  apart ; 
Or,  fills  with  love  the  pilgrim  on  his  way, 
As  the  far  bell  of  vesper  makes  him  start, 
Seeming  to  weep  the  dying  day's  decay. 
Is  this  a  fancy  which  our  reason  scorns  ? 
Ah  !  surely  nothing  dies  but  something  mourns.'* 

There,  far  down  in  these  peaceful  valleys,  that  look  so  calm  and 
still,  and  which  even  seem  to  fill  one's  breast  with  prophetic  sadness, 
have  taken  place  some  sharp,  fierce  struggles — where  a  little  band  of 
patriots,  badly  armed  and  equipped,  but  with  stout  hearts,  in  a  good 
cause,  have  essayed  to  plant  firmly  the  flag  of  freedom.  Now  for 
ward,  now  backward,  sometimes  in  good  success  up  to  the  very  foot 
of  the  hill  of  Trinidad  they  have  pressed,  and  yet  again  been  forced 
back  amidst  the  shades  of  these  palmy  groves,  or  the  shelter  of  the 
waving  cane.  These  grand  old  hills  have  witnessed  horrid  deeds  of 
cruelty  in  the  beautiful  plains  below,  which  rival  in  brutality  and 
bloodthirstiness  any  that  the  page  of  history  yet  can  show. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  valley,  the  highest  peak  which  the 
traveler  is  able  to  see,  and  one  whose  top  is  frequently  hidden  in 
fleecy  clouds,  is  the  "  Pico  de  Potrerillo,"  one  of  the  highest  moun 
tains  in  Cuba,  being  some  three  thousand  odd  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  sea.  It  is  said  that  the  view  from  there  is  even  more  grand 
and  extensive  than  that  from  the  Vijia,  but  it  is  a  long  ride,  and 
involves  the  necessity  of  staying  in  its  neighborhood  over  night. 

The  drive  to  the  "  Loma  del  Puerto  "  is  a  very  beautiful  one  that 


476  HERE   AND   THERE   IN   CUBA. 

should  be  taken  by  every  traveler  at  Trinidad,  presenting,  as  it  does, 
grand  and  beautiful  views  of  the  hill  "  Del  Puerto  "  and  a  portion  of 
the  valley. 

This  valley  is  said  to  be  the  most  beautiful  of  the  Island  seen  from 
this  side,  as  there  one  sees  the  beautiful  perspective  of  mountains, 
that  rise  to  good  height  at  the  depth  of  the  valley,  and  towering 
above  which  is  seen  the  "  Pico  de  Potrerillo.''  Within  the  bound 
aries  of  the  valley  there  are  no  less  than  fifty  ingenios,  some  of  them 
of  the  finest  class.  It  is  watered  by  a  number  of  beautiful  streams, 
two  of  which,  the  Ay  and  the  Agabama,  unite  and  form  the  river  Ma- 
nati,  which  empties  into  the  sea  to  the  east  of  Casilda,  and  which  is 
navigable  some  seven  miles,  and  by  which  the  planters  send  their 
sugar  and  molasses  to  the  shipping  points. 

Mineral  Springs. 

In  this  same  river  of  Ay  there  are  sulphurous  mineral  springs,  the 
water  being  delicious  to  drink ;  and  in  the  centre  of  the  valley,  and 
on  its  banks,  is  a  village  of  the  same  name  as  the  river,  prettily 
situated  in  a  grove  of  trees — in  fact,  the  whole  of  the  valley  is  one 
scene  of  beauty.  The  railroad  from  the  Casilda  runs  through  the 
valley  some  distance,  and  if  the  time-table  is  so  arranged  that  the 
traveler  can  go  from  Trinidad  in  the  morning  and  return  in  the  even 
ing,  he  will  be  delighted  with  his  trip. 

On  the  way  back  from  the  Loma  del  Puerto,  the  tourist  can  visit 
the  magnificent  place  of  Recreo,  "  Quinta,"  or  country  house  of  the 
Cantero  family,  which  is  situated  a  short  distance  from  the  town,  at 
the  head  of  the  beautiful  valley,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains, 
which  rise  up  behind  it  forming  a  majestic  background  to  the  lovely 
beauties  of  the  place.  It  is  a  lovely  walk  to  this  estate  of  an  early 
morning  from  Trinidad,  and  one  can  go  in  and  walk  around  these 
beautiful  grounds  with  constant  and  renewed  pleasure. 

In  the  north  of  the  town  is  the  barranca,  as  it  is  called  a  place  of 
very  rapid  descent,  leading  from  the  town  down  into  the  valley,  the 
road  being  dug  out  of  the  side  of  the  hill  and  paved  with  stone  as 
far  down  as  the  bank  of  the  river  Tayabo,  which  flows  by  the  town 


HERE  AND   THERE  IN   CUBA.  477 

at  this  point.  Here  the  washerwomen  have  established  their  city 
laundry,  as  it  may  be  called,  and  a  ridiculous  and  not  very  decent 
sight  it  is  of  a  wash-day  to  see  men  and  women,  many  entirely  naked, 
seated  upon  the  rocks  or  half  immersed  in  the  water,  washing,  slash 
ing  and  pounding  the  clothes  with  pieces  of  stone,  and  if  the  traveler 
has  been  unfortunate  enough  to  trust  any  of  them  with  his  wardrobe, 
he  will  learn  to  his  cost  with  what  effect. 

This  barranca  is  also  a  lovely  stroll  of  an  evening,  when  the  sha 
dows  of  night  are  stealing  over  the  quiet  hills  and  valley  below,  giv 
ing  them  a  peculiarly  quiet  and  sombre  hue. 

The  Public  Buildings. 

There  are  several  public  buildings  and  churches  in  the  town  of 
Trinidad,  which  offer  nothing  in  particular  to  the  traveler,  except  it 
may  be  the  extreme  filthiness  of  the  hospital  for  women  and  children, 
and  the  dreary  jail-like  appearance  of  the  care  el  or  dungeon;  while  of 
the  churches,  the  only  one  of  any  size  is  that  of  San  Francisco.  The 
church  of  Santa  Anna  is  small  and  old,  and  Paula,  at  the  Plaza  de 
Carillo,  not  much  better. 

On  Palm  Sunday,  doors  and  windows  are  decorated  with  the 
graceful  branches  of  the  mz/palm,  and  it  is  a  great  day  with  church 
and  state,  the  morning  Mass  being  celebrated  with  great  pomp  at  the 
church  of  San  FranciscOc  The  governor  and  staff,  in  full  uniform, 
the  town  council  in  sombre  full  dress,  the  officers  of  the  troops 
stationed  in  the  town,  "  pipe-clayed  and  mustache  waxed,"  are  all 
there  to  assist. 

Trinidad,  in  the  winter  or  gay  season,  is  a  very  hospitable,  pleasant 
place  for  the  stranger.  Almost  every  night  there  is  a  ball  or  party, 
and  in  the  daytime  there  are  frequent  excursions  made  up  the  before 
mentioned  lovely  valley.  There  is  no  pleasanter  place  to  spend  a 
winter  in  than  Trinidad  de  Cuba,  and  any  traveler  not  caring  to  travel 
over  the  Island,  but  who  wants  quiet,  rest,  and  pleasant  enjoyment, 
should  winter  there. 

And  now  the  boat  is  in,  and  will  start  in  a  few  hours.  We  order 
our  volante,  make  our  preparations  and  bidding  adieu  to  our  kind 


478  HERE  AND   THERE   IN   CUBA. 

friends  after  giving  a  knuckle-breaking  shake  of  the  hand  to  the  jolly 
old  landlord,  we  turn  our  backs  upon  the  varied  attractions  of  this 
city,  carrying  away  with  us  a  lively  memory  of  its  beautiful  scenes, 
lovely  women  and  hospitable  people,  the  delightful  ride  down  the 
mountain  forming  a  fitting  close  to  our  exceedingly  pleasant  stay  in 
Trinidad. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
Life  in  the  Coffee  Mountains. 

A  TRAVELER  who  is  familiar  with  every  part  of  Cuba,  fur 
nishes  the  following  interesting  account  of  the  cultivation  of 
the  coffee  plant,  which  furnishes  one  of  the  chief  exports  of 
the  Island  : 

"  Our  horses  are  all  saddled  and  bridled,  and  the  party,  consisting 
of  five  persons,  is  ready  to  mount.  Our  cigars  are  lighted,  and, 
mounting  the  sturdy  beasts  that  have  some  work  in  prospect,  we  ride 
off  in  the  fine  bracing  air  fresh  from  the  mountains. 

"  My  future  host,  like  most  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  section  of  the 
country,  was  a  descendant  of  the  old  original  French  settlers, 
refugees  from  the  terrible  massacres  of  St.  Domingo,  who,  coming  to 
the  Island  of  Cuba,  settled  themselves,  as  much  as  possible,  in  their 
old  occupations  of  sugar-making  and  coffee-growing.  French,  there 
fore,  by  birth,  educated  in  the  United  States  from  a  boy,  and  living 
constantly  amongst  Spaniards,  he  had  the  happy  faculty  of  being  able 
to  speak  either  French,  English,  or  Spanish,  as  a  mother-tongue,  in 
addition  to  which  he  spoke  the  Creole  dialect — a  compound  of  vile 
French  and  some  little  Spanish,  which  is  the  usual  language  of  the 
negroes  and  the  plantation. 

"  A  young  Englishman,  amusing  himself  and  at  the  same  time 
making  money  by  traveling  all  over  the  world  as  a  photographer, 
was  one  of  our  number,  while  two  Cuban  planters,  one  of  them  a 
nephew  of  our  host,  made  up  the  party. 

"  We  rode  through  some  lovely  valleys,  covered  with  sugar-cane, 
and  then,  striking  the  hills,  began  the  ascent  of  those  mountains 
known  as  the  '  Yateras/  which  appeared  quite  near  to  the  village  of 
Catalina  when  we  started,  but  now  seemed  to  recede  almost  as  we 
advanced.  Our  journey  was  to  be  about  eighteen  miles  in  extent, 

479 


480  LIFE   IN   THE   COFFEE   MOUNTAINS. 

continually  ascending  until  we  should  reach  the  very  summit  of  the 
mountains,  where  the  finest  coffee  grows,  and  which  is  now  known  as 
the  coffee  district. 

"  Gradually  getting  to  the  foot  of  the  hills,  and  then  ascending 
them  for  some  time,  we  begin  to  take  in  the  beauties  of  our  road  and 
the  advantages  of  our  position.  We  have  left  now  the  flat  country 
behind  us,  and  are  coming  into  clumps  of  forests,  with  occasionally  a 
hacienda,  or  farm,  and  now  and  then  a  small  coffee  place,  and  at  last 
we  strike  the  steep  mountain  path. 

Beauties  of  Mountain  and  Landscape. 

"  Now,  turning  in  our  saddles,  we  begin  to  see  the  magnificent 
beauties  of  the  landscape.  Far  above  us,  the  wild,  high  mountains 
are  raising  their  forest-clothed  crests,  while  around  is  a  broken  coun 
try  of  hills  with  small  valleys  in  their  midst,  and  far  away,  below  us, 
we  catch  glimpses  through  the  turnings  of  the  road  of  the  level 
green  plain  of  the  earth  below.  Mossy  rocks,  strange  trees,  beautiful 
ferns,  and  curious  hanging  vines,  or  graceful  festoons  of  moss  we  see 
upon  either  side  of  the  road,  and  here  and  there  a  wax-like  looking 
tree  pushes  out  to  our  view  from  the  thick  roadside  foliage  the 
golden  but  bitter  fruit  of  the  wild  orange,  which  tempts  us  in  vain. 

"  Occasionally  we  hear  shouts  from  some  of  the  invisible  laby 
rinths  of  roads  followed  by  the  head  of  some  coffee-laden  mule 
emerging  around  the  curve,  and,  perhaps,  succeeded  by  twenty  or 
thirty  others,  all  with  their  loads  of  coffee  following  their  leader,  to 
whom  they  are  attached  head  and  tail,  down  to  the  village. 

"  The  air  is  pure  and  dry,  about  the  temperature  of  that  of  the 
White  Mountains  in  summer,  with  that  peculiar  feeling  of  rarity  and 
lightness  so  agreeable  to  breathe  in.  Our  journey  is  enlivened  by 
pleasant  converse  and  these  beautiful  scenes,  varied  by  occasionally 
meeting  some  very  gentlemanly  French  planters  on  their  way  down  ; 

and  at  last  we  begin  to  near  the  summit,  when  Mr.  L ,  my  host, 

tells  me  to  prepare  myself  for  the  most  beautiful  view  I  have  seen. 

"  A  little  incredulous,  after  seeing  Trinidad,  I  prepare  myself  to 
enjoy,  perhaps,  some  wild  or  extensive  view ;  when,  upon  turning  a 


LIFE   IN  THE   COFFEE   MOUNTAINS.  481 

high,  rocky  point  in  the  road,  we  have  presented  to  our  view  nearly 
such  a  scene  as  Church  has  endeavored  to  depict  in  his  '  Heart  of 
the  Andes,'  though  here,  of  course,  there  are  no  mountains  so  high. 
Farther  than  eye  can  pierce  extends  the  wonderful  distance  in  this 
view  of  the  '  Plain  of  Guantanamo,'  where  sea  and  sky  appear  to 
fade  away  into  fairy  mist  before  meeting  each  other.  We  see  a  vast 
plain  of  cane-fields,  which  at  this  distance  appear  as  simple  pastures, 
while  farther  away  the  strong  light  of  early  morning  gives  the  appear 
ance  of  lakes  of  silver.  Near  us  and  above  us  rise  the  majestic  hills, 
covered  with  innumerable  gigantic  forest  trees. 

"  Now  we  come  in  sight  of  our  destination,  which  we  see,  as  the 
road  skirts  around  the  mountain,  to  be  a  lovely  place,  nestling  in  the 
shadow  of  the  great  hills  behind  it,  while  in  front  is  a  lovely  valley, 
teeming  with  the  luxuriant  vegetation  of  the  tropics. 

"  At  the  cross-roads  we  bid  good-by  to  our  planter  friends,  promis- 
mg  to  pay  them  a  visit,  and  putting  spurs  to  our  horses,  we  gallop  up 
between  the  walls  of  the  secadcros  (coffee  dryers)  to  the  door  of  mine 
host,  where,  dismounting,  we  are  cordially  and  pleasantly  received  by 
Madame  and  her  two  beautiful  children,  of  whom,  with  my  usual 
penchant  for  handsome  children,  horses,  and  dogs,  I  became  very 
fond. 

A  Danish  Custom. 

"  There  is  a  good  old  custom  amongst  the  Danes,  I  believe,  that 
when  the  first  toast  is  drunk,  it  is  to  the  '  roof  of  the  house  which 
covers  every  one  in  it — meaning  thereby  that  it  is  all  one  family 
strangers  included.  This  same  custom  might  appropriately  be  kept 
up  amongst  the  French  coffee-planters  of  the  mountains;  for  when 
you  take  your  seat  at  the  table,  you  are  immediately  installed  as  one 
of  the  family  circle. 

"  And  how,  O  reader !  can  I  adequately  describe  to  you  that  most 
delicious  life  in  those  lofty  mountains  ? — the  pure  air,  the  morning 
rides,  the  beautiful  effects  of  nature,  which  were  impressed  indelibly 
on  my  memory  by  my  ever  unsatisfactory  attempts  to  transfer  their 
loveliness  to  my  sketch-book.  Let  us  try  a  day  or  two  together,  and 
see  if  we  can  form  an  idea  of  this  life,  so  pure,  so  fresh,  so  natural. 
31 


482  LIFE   IN   THE   COFFEE   MOUNTAINS. 

"  Rising  at  six  o'clock,  we  all  meet  around  the  family  board,  where, 
each  one  takes  his  simple  cup  of  coffee,  with,  perhaps,  a  biscuit,  the 
children  being  supplied  with  milk.  The  gentlemen  then  mount  their 
horses,  the  little  ones  go  off  with  their  governess,  and  we  leave 
Madame  in  charge  of  the  establishment,  while  we  gallop  off  to  ride 
over  the  place  and  see  the  hands  at  work  in  the  coffee  groves,  or, 
perhaps,  making  a  new  road,  or  clearing  off  the  timber  of  the  forests 
for  a  new  coffee-field. 

"Try  to  imagine  any  beautiful  mountains  that  you  have  ever  been 
on,  covered  with  woods,  two  or  three  thousand  feet  above  the  sea, 
with  a  temperature  always  the  same  the  year  round,  the  road  dug  out 
of  the  very  mountain  side,  the  vegetation  as  luxuriant  as  it  is  possi 
ble  to  be,  with  vines,  ferns,  wild  orange  trees,  and  shrubs,  from  the 
branches  of  which  moss  hangs  down  in  graceful  festoons  ;  and  more 
than  all,  the  wonderful,  curious  parasites,  which,  graceful  and  beauti 
ful  as  they  are,  carry  certain  death  to  any  forest  denizen  they  twine 
their  arms  around.  Here  is  one  called  the  ' '  cupeyj  taken  in  one  of 
the  paths  in  the  Calderones  mountains. 

Trees  Squeezed  to  Death. 

"  It  is  a  parasite  which  entwines  itself  around  the  ceiba,  or  other 
tree,  and  in  course  of  time  entirely  kills  it.  It  originates  on  the  tree 
itself,  and  throws  its  roots  downwards,  which,  in  the  course  of  their 
growth,  entwine  the  tree  in  such  a  manner  that  eventually  its  trunk 
is  compressed  as  if  in  a  vice,  and  life  very  soon  becomes  extinct. 
The  parasite,  with  its  roots  continually  descending,  takes  strong  hold 
in  the  ground.  Sometimes,  however,  it  shares  the  fate  of  the  tree 
whose  death  it  has  caused,  inasmuch  as  when  the  original  tree  dies, 
the  strength  of  the  parasite  has  not  been  sufficiently  matured  to  sup 
port  its  own  weight  alone,  and  it  therefore  falls  to  the  ground  with 
its  victim. 

"  There  is  a  great  number  of  curious  smaller  plants,  some  of  which 
we  know,  others  that  we  never  heard  of  before — fit  studies  for  the 
botanist.  Here  is  the  '  ladies' collar'  an  herb  with  a  large  leaf,  shaped 
like  the  old  style  of  collars  worn  by  ladies,  from  which  it  gets  its 


LIFE  IN   THE  COFFEE   MOUNTAINS.  483 

flame.  There  is  the  old  familiar  plant  of  the  castor  oil,  of  which  we 
as  children  have  no  pleasant  recollections. 

"  This  grows  in  great  quantities  all  over  these  mountains,  and  is 
prepared  by  the  superannuated  negro  women,  who  select  the  beans 
and  clean  them  ready  for  extracting  the  oil.  I  was  very  much 
amused  with  an  old  woman,  perfectly  blind,  who  seemed  to  pick  out 
the  perfect  and  imperfect  seeds  with  the  greatest  facility,  while  she  sat 
croning  over  her  task  on  the  stone  floor  of  the  coffee-dryer. 

"  Still  wandering  along,  we  come  out  upon  an  opening  in  the  woods, 
and,  looking  down,  we  see  the  new  fields  being  prepared  for  coffee ; 
which  is  simply  done  by  cutting  down  the  timber  upon  the  side  of  a 
hill  favorably  situated,  and  burning  off  the  brush.  The  seed  is  put 
in  with  those  of  the  plantain,  the  cacao,  or  the  palm,  and  left  to 
grow.  One  of  these  fields  looks  exactly  like  one  of  our  western 
clearings. 

"  Let  us  turn  now  into  this  grassy  path  that  looks  as  if  it  would 
bury  itself  deep  in  the  woods ;  a  step  or  two  more,  and  just  look  at 
that !  what  a  curious  combination  of  strange  trees,  warm  sunlight, 
and  graceful  foliage ! 

"  One  tree  quite  common  throughout  the  Island  is  a  species  of 
parasite,  somewhat  peculiar  even  for  a  tropical  country,  known  as  the 
jaguey ;  it  has  the  same  peculiarities  as  the  cupey,  but  with  the  excep 
tion  that  after  its  roots  take  hold  in  the  ground  they  unite  and  form  one 
trunk  of  many  pillars,  becoming  a  sturdy  tree,  while  the  original  tree 
dies  out  and  decays"  leaving  a  hollow  space  in  the  centre  of  the  para 
site.  In  this  it  only  follows  the  usual  fate  of  this  variety  of  trees  as 
observed  elsewhere. 

"  It  is  supposed  the  origin  of  these  parasites  is  from  the  ordure  of 
the  birds  who  carry  the  seed  and  deposit  it  in  the  tree,  where  it 
appears  to  take  root  in  the  branches  as  a  simple  vine,  gradually 
assuming  size  and  strength,  until  finally  it  causes  the  death  of  its  host. 
Usually,  every  morning,  I  visited  with  my  host  some  neighboring 
estates,  where  we  were  always  cordially  received  and  welcomed,  and 
immediately  the  disposition  of  the  house  was  put  at  my  service  by 
*.he  courtly  owners. 


LIFE   IN  THE   COFFEE   MOUNTAINS. 

"  At  eleven  o'clock,  breakfast  was  served,  which  was  the  same  sub 
stantial  meal  as  in  the  low  country,  except  there  was  a  greater  variety 
of  fine  vegetables — yams,  potatoes  of  various  kinds,  delicious  water- 
cresses  fresh  from  the  cool  brooks,  and  several  that  we  are  not 
acquainted  with,  such  as  the  apio  and  the  yuca,  the  latter  one  of  the 
most  useful  plants  on  the  Island,  of  which  there  are  four  classes 
known,  but  only  two  are  indigenous  to,  and  used  on,  the  Island. 
From  this  they  make  the  cassava  bread,  and  it  is  generally  used 
boiled  as  an  esculent;  starch  is  also  made  from  it  in  large  quantities. 

"  The  chayote,  which,  cooked  in  a  certain  way,  is  as  good  an  imitation 
of  apple-sauce  as  can  be  made,  is  an  odd-looking  fruit,  resembling  a 
big,  rugged  pear,  growing  on  a  vine  which  is  very  tender  and  grace 
ful,  and  when  twining  itself  around  some  cacao  or  plantain  tree,  has  a 
very  pretty  appearance. 

A  Curious  Fruit. 

"  The  mamey  is  also  a  curious  fruit,  of  a  peculiar  shape,  like  a 
large  sweet  potato,  with  a  rusty  brown  skin,  which,  when  cut  in  two, 
displays  one  long,  milky-white  seed,  and  surrounding  it  the  rich, 
reddish-brown  color  of  the  fruit,  resembling  a  nutmeg-melon.  To 
my  taste  it  is  too  '  sickish,'  having  no  juice,  but  being  of  a  dead-ripe 
flavor. 

"  Here  in  the  mountains  I  found  that  siesta-taking,  after  breakfast, 
prevailed,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that,  even  in  the  middle  of  the  day, 
the  sun  is  not  too  hot  to  go  out  in,  except  in  the  depth  of  summer. 
In  lieu  of  my  siesta,  while  the  rest  of  the  household  were  dozing,  I 
would  frequently  stroll  off  on  foot,  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
house,  to  sketch,  always  being  sure,  when  seated  on  some  log  or 
rock,  of  having  the  companionship  of  one  of  the  many  beautiful 
lizards  that  abounded,  and  that  were  so  tame  that  they  ran  all  about 
me,  being  perfectly  harmless,  too. 

"  One  little  fellow  amused  me  very  much.  I  had  taken  up  a  com 
fortable  position,  with  my  back  against  a  cocoa-nut  tree,  when  this 
little  fellow  came  running  down  the  tree  and  looked  over  my 
shoulders,  apparently  with  the  greatest  eye  to  criticism.  I  turned 


LIFE   IN  THE   COFFEE   MOUNTAINS.  485 

my  head  to  watch  him  better,  but,  as  he  did  not  seem  to  mind  me, 
and  kept  perfectly  quiet,  I  '  took '  him,  with  his  bright,  knowing  look. 
Some  of  these  lizards  are  perfectly  beautiful,  with  their  exceeding 
brilliancy  of  color,  those  with  stripes  of  green  and  black  across  their 
back,  and  with  little  jet  eyes,  being  charmingly  pretty. 

"  The  chameleon,  that  we  have  heard  so  much  about;  it  was  not  my 
good  fortune  to  meet  the  whole  time  I  was  on  the  Island.  I  was 
struck  with  the  entire  absence,  also,  of  venomous  insects  and  reptiles. 
The  worst  thing  they  have  is  the  scorpion,  whose  bite,  though  not 
considered  dangerous,  is  very  painful. 

Troublesome  Insect. 

"  The  '  jigger,'  as  it  is  vulgarly  called,  is  an  insect  that  often  occa 
sions  more  trouble  to  strangers  than  anything  else,  being  a  small 
insect  that  gets  under  the  toe-nails,  and,  if  not  taken  out,  makes  its 
nest,  inflames  the  foot,  and  causes  much  pain ;  it  can  then  only  be 
removed  with  the  knife. 

"  '  Monte  de  Verde '  is,  probably,  the  finest  estate  in  this  section  of 
the  country,  being  a  very  large  and  well-regulated  property,  situated 
in  a  lovely  valley,  amidst  surrounding  hills.  The  house  is  large  and 
handsome,  with  a  beautiful  flower-garden  in  its  rear.  The  fruit  and 
vegetable-gardens  are  very  large  and  very  fine ;  and  some  attempts 
have  been  made  to  cultivate  the  strawberry,  this  being  the  only  por 
tion  of  the  Island  where  that  berry  is  found.  Here  among  the 
mountains  it  grows  wild,  though  never  very  large.  In  fact,  there 
are  no  berries  such  as  we  have,  upon  the  Island,  as  far  as  my  experi 
ence  goes. 

"  The  loveliest  place  that  I  saw  was  the  one  known  as  the 
'  Orangeries,'  which,  high  up  among  the  mountains,  was  itself  built 
upon  a  plateau,  from  whence  an  ascent  to  the  top  of  the  still  higher 
hills  was  made.  It  was  a  fine  stone  house,  built  something  in  the 
style  of  some  of  the  Swiss  chalets,  and  finished  in  its  interior  with 
the  beautiful  polished  wood  of  the  country.  It  commands  a  splendid 
view  of  the  adjacent  mountains  and  the  valley  beneath. 

"  Some  of  the  roads  around  these  different  estates  were  very  iovely. 


486  LIFE  IN  THE  COFFEE  MOUNTAINS. 

The  light  fell  upon  them,  tempered  by  the  thick,  screening  branches 
of  the  fragrant  orange  plants,  the  lovely  jessamine,  or  the  delicate 
heliotrope ;  while  hanging  temptingly  within  one's  reach  was  the 
large  and  brilliant-looking  pomegranate,  which  here  grows  to  a  size 
as  large  as  the  orange 

"  To  the  naturalist,  the  botanist,  or  the  artist,  this  section  of  coun 
try  offers  every  inducement  for  a  visit.  Rare  plants,  curious  insects, 
and  superb  and  novel  views  meet  one  at  every  step.  At  the  same 
house  with  me  was  stopping  Mr.  Cleinwerche,  a  Prussian  artist  of 
great  talent,  who  had  passed  some  time  in  various  parts  of  the 
Island,  painting  its  striking  scenes,  which  he  informed  me  surpassed 
any  he  had  ever  seen  in  the  many  lands  in  which  he  had  traveled. 

Delightful  Excursions. 

"  Our  afternoon  rides  were  here  always  as  agreeable  as  those  of 
the  morning  ;  in  fact  there  was  no  time  during  the  day  that  it  was  not 
cool  enough  to  exercise,  either  on  foot  or  on  horseback ;  and  many 
were  the  rides  we  had  to  the  house  of  some  neighbor,  where,  stop 
ping  to  dine,  perhaps,  we  returned  in  the  evening  over  mountain 
paths  made  bright  for  us  by  the  rays  of  the  moon,  which  added  new 
beauties  to  the  scene ;  or,  if  the  moon  did  not  favor  us,  there  was 
always  the  bright  peripatetic  candle-bearer,  the  '  cucullo}  by  whose 
brilliant  light  one  can  not  only  walk,  but  even  read. 

"  This  insect  is  about  the  size  of  our  roach,  and  has  somewhat  its 
appearance,  being  perfectly  black,  with  two  small,  bright  eyes  in  the 
back  of  its  long  head,  on  each  side  of  which  extend  two  small,  sharp 
horns,  or  feelers.  These  two  eyes,  in  connection  with  another  in  the 
point  of  its  breast,  are  the  live  orbs  that  give  out  the  bright  light,  the 
three  together,  when  the  insect  has  its  wings  spread,  appearing  in  the 
dark  nights  as  one  brilliant,  by  the  light  of  which  one  can  see  to  read 
a  letter. 

"  They  are  used,  it  is  said,  by  anxious  lovers,  at  their  stolen  noc 
turnal  rendezvous  ;  and  it  may  be  for  this  reason  they  are  such  great 
favorites  with  the  ladies,  who  wear  them  in  their  belts,  their  hair,  and 
under  their  thin,  gauzy  dresses,  which  they  wear  of  an  evening  ;  the 


LIFE  IN  THE  COFFEE   MOUNTAINS. 

effect,  as  may  be  imagined,  is  as  novel  as  it  is  beautiful.  In  some 
parts  of  the  Island  they  also  make  pets  of  them,  by  keeping  them  in 
little  cages,  feeding  them  on  sugar-cane,  and  bathing  them  ! 

"  A  wonderful  natural  curiosity  I  saw  here,  also,  in  the  form  of 
vegetable  lace,  made  from  the  bark  of  a  tree  called  '  guana'  A  small 
piece  of  this,  not  larger  than  one's  thumb,  is  taken,  a  thin  slice  cut 
from  it  and  moistened  in  water ;  after  which  the  women  pull  it  with 
their  hands,  first  one  way  and  then  the  other,  until  it  opens  out  into, 
apparently,  the  finest  threads,  looking  exactly  like  the  best  mull. 
The  ladies  take  this,  embroider  it,  put  an  edging  of  real  lace  on  it, 
and  wear  it  for  neckerchiefs. 

Flower  of  Holy  Week. 

"  There  is  one  flower  I  was  particularly  struck  with,  known  as  the 
'  Flor  de  Pascua/  as  well  from  its  profusion  as  its  great  beauty.  This 
is  the  special  flower  of  Holy  Week,  from  which  it  receives  its  name, 
from  the  fact  that  about  this  season  it  comes  out  in  all  its  brilliancy 
of  color.  It  is  a  simple  bush,  with  the  leaves  growing  in  graceful 
clusters,  which  then  become  of  a  bright  vermilion  color ;  while  the 
flower  itself  is  of  a  most  delicate  cup  or  vase-like  form  (something  in 
the  shape  of  an  Etruscan  vase),  the  colors  upon  which  are  a  most 
delicate  gradation  from  white  to  rich  pink.  It  has  also  the  most  ex 
quisitely  formed  stamens.  I  have  seen  it  but  once  in  our  hot-houses. 

"I  must  confess  to  being  disappointed  in  the  number  of  birds  of 
Cuba,  or  else  I  was  not  very  fortunate  in  seeing  them  during  my  stay. 
At  all  events,  I  remarked  frequently,  in  the  woods,  the  absence  of 
those  sweet-singing  birds  so  numerous  with  us  ;  and  as  I  have  read 
so  much  and  heard  so  much  of  the  brilliant  plumage  of  the  birds  of 
the  tropics,  I  was  disappointed  in  not  seeing  them.  Chirping-birds 
abound,  and  the  most  brilliant  bird  I  saw  was  the  tocorroro,  a  bird 
belonging  to  the  woodpecker  tribe. 

"  In  the  country  beyond  these  mountains  of  the  Yateras,  which  is 
still  a  wilderness,  there  are,  I  am  told,  a  great  many  attractions  for 
the  scientific  man,  in  the  large  numbers  of  strange  birds,  insects,  and 
reptiles* 


488  LIFE   IN  THE   COFFEE   MOUNTAINS. 

"  It  was  the  last  of  April  before  I  left  the  Coffee  Mountains,  and 
the  rainy  season,  as  they  call  it,  had  then  set  in.  This  only  added  to 
my  pleasure ;  for  the  rain,  as  far  as  I  saw  it,  consisted  of  a  splendid 
shower  either  once  or  twice  a  day,  which  had  the  effect  of  making 
the  air  even  more  bracing  than  before.  Sometimes,  in  the  middle  of 
the  day,  it  would  rain  for  a  couple  of  hours  as  though  the  very  flood 
gates  of  heaven  had  broken  open,  and  then,  having  exhausted  itself, 
it  would  clear  up,  the  sun  would  come  out  in  new  glory,  and  we 
would  have  a  most  beautiful  afternoon  and  evening. 

"  For  the  invalid  traveler  I  can  imagine  no  more  perfect  country  or 
life  than  that  of  the  Coffee  Mountains  of  the  Yateras.  Breathing 
the  purest  of  air,  living  luxuriously  upon  the  astonishing  profusion 
of  natural  supplies,  enjoying  a  climate  that  from  day  to  day  and 
week  to  week  does  not  vary  a  degree,  and  experiencing  the  exhilar 
ating  and  invigorating  effects  of  the  constant  exercise  on  fine  horses 
that  becomes  a  daily  habit,  the  sick  man  needs  to  despair  indeed  if 
he  is  not  recuperated  by  such  a  life  as  this.  Unfortunately,  unless  he 
is  recommended  to  some  of  the  hospitable  people  of  that  section, 
there  is  no  means  of  living,  unless,  indeed,  he  has  a  taste  for  '  camp 
ing  out/  which,  amid  such  scenes  and  in  a  climate  like  this,  would  be 
no  hardship. 

"  If,  in  some  happy  day  for  the  Cubans,  their  Island  shall  be  blessed 
with  a  more  liberal  government  and  a  more  tolerant  religion,  which 
will  be  followed  by  a  strong  tide  of  emigration,  these  hills,  mountains 
and  valleys  of  the  Calderones  and  Yateras  will  be  the  chosen  spots 
of  the  Island  ;  for  here,  with  comparatively  little  expense  and  less 
trouble,  can  be  made  the  most  beautiful  homes  in  the  world  for  those 
fond  of  rural  life  and  the  beauties  of  nature. 

"  As  for  me,  the  benefit  I  derived  in  health  and  strength,  and  the 
great  pleasure  I  experienced  from  a  short  sojourn  amidst  the  scenes 
and  the  people  of  the  Yateras,  have  given  me  memories  never  to  be 
forgotten,  and  I  shall  ever  treasure  them  up  as  we  treasure  the  fairy 
visions  of  our  youth." 

How  few  of  us,  as  we  sit  in  our  cozy  dining-rooms  after  dinner,  of 
a  cold  winter's  day,  sipping  our  coffee,  think  or  know  of  the  trouble, 


LIFE   IN   THE  COFFEE   MOUNTAINS.  489 

the  time,  and  the  labor  that  is  taken,  far  off  under  the  hot  sun  of  the 
tropics,  to  give  us  that  little  cupful  of  mahogany-looking  fluid ;  of 
the  sweat  and  the  toil  of  its  cultivation  ;  of  the  processes,  machinery, 
and  journeys  necessary  before  it  comes  to  us !  Few  of  us  know 
whether  it  grows  like  corn  on  ?.  cob,  or  beans  in  a  pod ;  and  few 
there  are  who  will  not  be  astonished  when  told  that  it  grows  and 
looks  on  the  tree  very  much  like  a  cherry. 

The  Coffee  District. 

Although  coffee  is  now  grown,  more  or  less,  all  over  the  Island  of 
Cuba,  and  at  one  time  was  as  largely  cultivated  in  the  valleys  and 
plains  as  is  at  present  the  sugar-cane,  yet  now  the  portion  of  the 
Island  where  most  of  the  coffee-raising  is  done  is  in  the  district  and 
near  the  town  of  Cuba,  and  in  the  jurisdiction  of  Guantanamo.  Land 
in  this  portion  of  the  Island  has  been  so  cheap  that  planters  have 
found  it  to  their  interest,  as  their  old  places  became  worn  out,  to  sell 
them,  and  come  with  their  means  to  these  beautiful  hills,  where  the 
climate  was  healthy,  the  crop  of  coffee  better,  and  the  land  to  be  had 
for  a  song. 

In  addition  to  this,  coffee  culture,  for  various  reasons,  has  in  some 
degree  declined,  principally  owing,  it  is  said,  to  the  United  States 
placing  an  almost  prohibitory  tariff  on  Cuban  coffee  in  favor  of  Brazil, 
which  empire  receives  our  flour  and  grain  at  a  nominal  tariff,  while 
in  Cuba  there  has  been  always  a  tax  upon  our  exports  of  that  kind. 
Be  this  as  it  may,  it  is  certain  that  many  of  those  who  formerly 
planted  coffee  now  make  sugar,  partly  because  they  can  use  their 
large  number  of  hands  to  greater  advantage,  and  partly  because, 
owing  to  the  uncertainty  of  the  coffee  crop,  the  price  has  varied  from 
three  to  thirty  dollars  per  hundred  pounds. 

The  cafetales  most  noted  for  their  richness  and  for  the  excellency 
of  the  fruit,  one  finds  in  the  range  of  mountains  known  as  the  Sierra 
Maestra,  vicinity  of  Cuba,  in  the  Vuelta  Abajo,  and  in  the  districts  of 
Alquizar  and  San  Marcos.  From  the  fact  that  these  latter  are  old 
places,  that  have  been  established  a  long  time,  they  are  possessed  of 
all  that  degree  of  elegance  and  magnificence  for  which  they  are  origi- 


490  LIFE   IN   THE   COFFEE   MOUNTAINS. 

nally  celebrated;  nevertheless,  the  mountains  of  Guantanamo  are 
now  considered  the  coffee  regions  of  Cuba,  and  there  the  cultivation 
is  on  the  increase,  while  in  other  places  it  has  decreased  rapidly. 

After  the  ingenios,  the  cafetales  are  the  most  extensive  agricultural 
establishments  carried  on  in  Cuba — the  latter  exceeding  the  former 
generally  in  their  handsome  appearance  and  care.  Their  size  varies 
Trom  one  hundred  to  one  thousand  acres,  or  even  more  in  the  moun 
tains,  The  number  of  hands  employed  in  the  low  country  is  as  high 
as  one  hundred,  but  generally  averages  to  every  one  thousand  acres 
about  fifty  or  sixty  negroes. 

How  Coffee  was  Introduced. 

The  first  coffee  plantation  was  established  in  1748,  the  seeds  being 
brought  from  Santo  Domingo  by  one  Don  Jos6  Gelabert,  of  whom  it 
is  related  that  it  was  his  intention  when  he  came  to  make  only  a  gar 
den.  He  established  himself  at  a  short  distance  from  Havana,  but 
the  cultivation  of  coffee  did  not  really  commence  until  the  arrival  of 
the  French  from  Santo  Domingo,  about  1795. 

In  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  coffee,  large  amounts  of  rice,  plan 
tains,  potatoes,  cacao  or  chocolate,  and  all  kinds  of  fruit  are  raised  ; 
the  seeds  being  planted  in  the  same  fields  with  the  coffee,  in  order 
that  the  trees  may  eventually  afford  the  shade  which  the  coffee  plant 
requires.  ^\\z  guarda  rayos,  or  roads  that  lead  up  to  the  dwellings, 
are  generally  shaded  by  these  plants,  or  by  long  rows  of  palm  or 
cocoa,  and  in  some  cases  a  beautiful,  graceful  species  of  poplar,  all  of 
which  form  very  charming  avenues  or  drives. 

The  cafetal  has  also  its  batey,  or  square,  like  the  ingenio,  formed  by 
the  different  buildings,  which  latter  are  not  generally  so  extensive  as 
on  the  sugar-estates,  consisting  of  the  dwelling-house,  the  store 
houses,  the  stone  terraces  for  drying  the  coffee,  the  stables,  the  negro 
quarters,  and  the  coffee-house  where  the  fruit  is  prepared,  this  being 
generally  the  largest  of  the  structures.  The  number  of  subordinates 
required  is  small  from  the  small  number  of  hands  employed ;  and 
although  there  are  sometimes  administrators  to  the  cafctales,  in  gen 
eral  they  are  managed  by  the  proprietor  with  the  assistance  of  the 


LIFE   IN  THE   COFFEE   MOUNTAINS.  491 

mayoral,  who  may  be  white,  but  who  is  generally  the  most  intelligent 
negro  on  the  place. 

It  is  computed  by  some  authorities  that,  in  good  seasons,  a  crop  is 
produced  in  about  the  following  proportions  :  To  every  two  hundred 
and  sixty-four  acres,  two  hundred  thousand  trees  can  be  planted, 
which  will  produce,  on  an  average,  sixty-two  thousand  five  hundred 
pounds  of  coffee,  which,  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  dollars  per  bag  of 
one  hundred  pounds,  will  give  the  nice  little  return  of  fifteen  thou 
sand  dollars  for  the  cultivation  of  over  two  hundred  and  sixty-four 
acres.  From  that,  of  course,  have  to  be  deducted  the  expenses, 
which  vary  according  to  locality  and  circumstances,  or  the  number  of 
hands  employed. 

Description  of  the  Plant. 

In  the  past  few  years,  owing  to  the  gradually  increasing  scarcity  of 
negroes,  many  improvements  have  been  made  in  the  use  of  labor- 
saving  machines,  some  of  which  are  worked  by  steam-power  in  lieu 
of  the  old-fashioned  way  of  working  by  water-power. 

Coffee  is  an  evergreen  shrub,  with  oblong,  pulpy  berries,  which  are 
at  first  green,  then  bright  red,  and  afterwards  purple.  That  portion 
of  it  used  as  the  coffee  of  commerce,  and  which,  when  ground  and 
boiled,  we  drink,  is  a  secretion  formed  in  the  interior  of  the  seed, 
and  enveloping  the  embryo  plant,  for  whose  support  it  is  destined 
when  it  first  begins  to  germinate.  It  is  raised  from  the  seed  when 
green  or  dried  in  the  air,  and  then  planted  in  the  ground,  where  it  is 
left  to  grow  for  forty  days,  at  which  time  the  shoot  appears,  if  the 
weather  is  favorable. 

The  number  of  seeds  planted  in  one  hole  is  ten  or  a  dozen,  the 
holes  being  made  with  a  knife  or  pointed  iron.  These  are  made  in 
regular  rows,  being  carefully  marked  out,  with  a  space  of  four  inches 
between  each  plant,  and  four  and  a  half  inches  between  each  row. 
The  shoots  having  begun  to  appear  and  gain  size,  are  carefully  and 
regularly  weeded,  about  once  a  month,  for  two  years  ;  at  the  end  of 
which  time  those  plants  that  have  attained  to  the  height  of  thirty 
inches  are  cropped.  At  the  end  of  the  third  year,  they  begin  bear 


492  LIFE   IN   THE   COFFEE   MOUNTAINS. 

ing  in  small  quantities ;  at  the  end  of  the  fourth  year,  they  are  in 
full  bearing,  and  continue  giving  good  crops,  if  the  land  is  good,  for 
twenty-five  or  thirty  years  ;  at  the  end  of  the  sixth  or  seventh  year, 
they  require  pruning ;  and  after  ten  years,  they  only  bear  good  crops 
every  alternate  year. 

At  the  end  of  February,  the  bearing  plants  begin  to  blossom,  and 
in  cold  places,  even  as  late  as  March  and  April,  continuing  even  up 
to  June.  Now  is  the  time  to  see  a  coffee  place  in  its  beauty.  Far  as 
the  eye  can  reach,  is  one  vast  sea  of  green,  wax-like  looking  leaves, 
upon  bushes  the  branches  of  which  are  now  in  their  luxuriant  growth, 
mingling  one  with  another ;  and  scattered  over  this  sea  of  green  are 
the  beautiful  white  blossoms,  looking  at  a  distance,  like  millions  of 
snow-drops,  or,  on  being  closely  examined,  resembling  a  most  delicate 
Maltese  cross  of  milky  wax.  In  bunches,  as  they  cluster  thick  around 
the  stem,  they  resemble  the  flower  of  the  jessamine,  possibly  even  more 

delicate. 

Clusters  of  Red  and  Golden  Fruit. 

It  is  hard  to  conceive  anything  more  beautiful,  particularly  if  look 
ing  over  head,  you  see  the  banana  tree,  with  its  clusters  of  green  and 
red  and  golden  fruit  peeping  out  from  their  large,  green  leaves.  At 
the  end  of  each  bunch  there  is  a  curiously  formed,  acorn-shaped,  and 
regal  purple-colored  bud  or  blossom.  Add  to  this  sight  the  red, 
yellow,  and  purple  fruit  of  the  cacao,  and  the  rosy-cheeked  pome 
granate,  and  you  have  an  idea  of  this  land,  flowing  with  milk  and 
honey — the  milk,  if  you  desire  it,  being  found  in  the  clusters  of  green 
cocoa-nuts  that  hang  far  above  your  head. 

The  coffee-blossom  remains  in  flower  about  two  days,  and  then  are 
formed  the  berries,  the  size  of  gun-shot,  until  at  maturity  they  attain 
the  size  and  appearance  of  very  small  cherries,  or,  to  be  more  exact, 
cranberries.  This  maturity  is  attained  usually  by  the  month  of 
September,  and  the  picking  season  then  begins,  although  it  is  now 
the  rainy  season.  As  the  berries  are  ripening  all  the  time,  the  pick 
ing  season  lasts  as  late  as  November  sometimes.  If  the  months  of 
July  and  August  are  dry  months,  with  no  rain,  the  berries  become 
scorched  with  the  hot  sun.  Coffee  is  a  fruit  which  requires  a  genial 


LIFE   IN   THE   COFFEE   MOUNTAINS.  493 

but  even  temperature,  there  being  hardly  any  possibility  of  its  having 
too  much  rain. 

The  picking  is  done  by  the  hands  on  the  place — men,  women  and 
children  all  going  through  the  rows,  each  one  with  two  bags  and  a 
basket  (according  to  the  capability  of  the  hand),  which  they  are  re 
quired  to  fill  during  the  day  with  the  round,  rich,  red  berry.  Each  of 
these  berries  contains  two  seeds,  side  by  side.  The  bags  being  filled 
are  brought  to  the  house  on  the  backs  of  mules,  and  there  received 
by  the  overseer,  who  measures  the  fruit  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  how 
much  each  negro  has  picked,  and  whether  he  has  performed  his  pro 
per  amount  of  labor. 

The  best  trees  yield  half  a  pound,  but  the  average  is  a  quarter  of  a 
pound  per  tree.  The  berries  are  now  ready  for  the  pulping-mill, 
which  is  a  large  wooden  wheel,  set  vertically  in  a  circular  canal  with 
ribbed  or  clinker-built  wooden  sides,  in  which  are  placed  the  berries 
for  the  purpose  of  having  the  rind  taken  off,  the  operation  being  per 
formed  by  the  wheel,  which  is  worked  either  by  steam  or  water-power, 
passing  over  them.  This  apparatus  generally  occupies  the  lower  floor 
of  the  coffee-house,  usually  a  large  frame  or  stone  building. 

The  Pulp  in  Ferment. 

The  pulp  is  now  placed  in  a  large,  dry,  stone  basin,  of  about  the 
form  and  size  of  a  small  swimming  bath,  and  allowed  to  remain  there 
and  ferment  for  twelve  hours,  for  the  pupose  of  more  completely 
separating  the  rind  and  the  beans ;  water  is  then  let  into  the  basin, 
and  all  the  gum,  which  is  a  sort  of  slimy,  mucous  matter  that  in  the 
old  process  deteriorated  the  coffee,  is  washed  off. 

Then  the  coffee  is  taken  out  of  the  water  and  placed  in  the 
secaderos,  where  the  berries  are  spread  out  to  dry  in  the  warm  rays 
of  the  sun,  which  they  do  in  from  seven  to  nine  days,  if  there  is  no 
rain.  These  secaderos,  or  drying-floors,  are  large  stone  basins,  quad 
rangular  in  shape,  about  fifty  or  sixty  feet  long  by  twenty  or  thirty 
feet  wide,  arranged  in  a  sort  of  terrace,  side  by  side,  and  sometimes 
a  dozen  in  number,  the  brow  of  the  hill  on  which  the  dwellings 
stand  being  usually  selected  to  build  them  upon.  They  are  about 


494  LIFE  IN  THE   COFFEE   MOUNTAINS. 

three  feet  from  the  ground,  built  of  stone,  with  plastered  floors  hav 
ing  an  inclination  from  the  centre  to  the  sides,  to  drain  off  the  water 
in  case  of  rain,  they  being  entirely  uncovered,  but  having  a  stone 
wall  around  them  about  a  foot  high. 

Should  it  come  on  to  rain  while  the  berries  are  thus  exposed,  they 
are  hurriedly  swept  up  into  large  heaps  in  the  centre,  and  over  them 
;s  placed  a  sort  of  covering  similar  to  a  small  wigwam,  made  of 
thatch  or  palm  leaves,  and  impervious  to  water,  there  being  two 
handles  to  lift  them  by.  The  moment  it  ceases  to  rain,  the  berries 
are  spread  out  again  until  thoroughly  dry.  They  are  covered  in  the 
same  way  at  night  to  protect  them  from  the  dew. 

Each  berry  now  resembles  a  round  bean,  or  the  kernel  of  a  small 
hazel  nut,  having  its  exterior  pellicle  quite  dry  and  dark-colored,  in 
which  state  it  is  placed  away  in  the  store-house  until  the  whole  crop 
is  gathered,  each  batch  of  green  fruit  undergoing  the  same  process  as 
fast  as  it  comes  in. 

Ready  for  the  Market. 

Now  the  preparing  of  the  fruit  for  market  takes  place,  the  first 
operation  of  which  is  placing  the  dry  berries  again  in  the  pulping- 
mill,  the  wheel  of  which,  being  put  in  motion,  cracks  off  the  dry  skin, 
and  the  two  grains  of  coffee  fall  out,  just  of  the  shape  in  which  we 
see  them  for  sale  ;  thence,  it  is  put  in  the  fanning-mill,  identically  the 
same  as  that  used  by  our  farmers  to  separate  the  grain  from  the  chaff. 

Being  now  free  from  all  extraneous  substances,  the  beans  are  placed 
again  in  the  pulping-mill  for  the  purpose  of  being  polished,  or  col 
ored  ;  for  think  not,  O  reader,  that  coffee  comes  to  us  of  its  natural 
color  without  a  little  "  doctoring;  "  as  to  every  thousand  pounds  of 
grain  there  is  added  half  an  ounce  of  lampblack,  and  the  wheel  now 
travels  over  and  over  it,  until  it  assumes  the  fine  green  color  it  has 
when  we  get  it.  This  is  called  the  polishing  process,  and  some 
planters  use  for  the  operation  charcoal  made  of  cedar-wood  ;  others, 
again,  use  soapstone  and  powdered  white  lead,  according  to  the  shade 
they  wish  to  give  it.  For  the  European  market,  the  latter  is  used, 
which  gives  the  coffee  a  dark-grey  color. 


LIFE  IN  THE  COFFEE  MOUNTAINS.  495 

Now  it  is  ready  for  the  sorting-room,  in  which  there  is  a  circular 
sieve  with  several  compartments  of  different-sized  wire,  which, 
worked  by  machinery,  revolves.  From  the  room  above,  and  directly 
over  the  sieve,  there  is  a  wooden  box  or  pipe,  leading  down  into  a 
wooden  funnel-shaped  reservoir,  for  the  purpose  of  conducting  the 
grain  from  the  room  into  the  sieve,  the  quantity  being  governed  by  a 
wooden  stopper  in  the  side  of  the  trough.  The  grain,  being  placed  in 
this  reservoir,  runs  slowly  into  the  revolving  cylinder  through  an 
opening  in  its  first  compartment,  and  from  thence  into  the  others, 
being  assorted  in  its  passage  through  the  different-sized  wires  of  the 
sieves  into  three  kinds. 

Different  Qualities. 

El  caracolillo  is  the  small  round  coffee,  one  grain  of  which  only  is 
found  in  each  berry,  and  resembles  the  celebrated  Arabian  coffee, 
"  Mocha,"  from  which  it  also  takes  its  name.  This  is  the  most 
prized,  bringing  usually  a  dollar  or  two  extra  per  bag ;  its  flavor  is 
not  really  better  than  that  of  other  coffee,  except  that  the  grain, 
being  smaller  and  round,  is  more  easily  and  thoroughly  roasted  ;  the 
bean  also  presents  a  much  better  appearance  to  the  purchaser. 

This  small  grain,  strange  to  say,  is  supposed  to  be  a  disease  in  the 
coffee,  as,  generally  from  want  of  rain,  or  from  some  freak  of  nature, 
the  grain  appears  in  this  stunted  form.  Great  care  is  used  in  sorting 
so  as  to  secure  the  best  of  coffee,  free  from  dirt,  pebbles,  and  decayed 
berries.  This  is  done  by  the  negro  women  picking  over  all  the  cof 
fee.  They  are  arranged  on  two  sides  of  a  long  table,  in  a  well- 
lighted  room,  used  expressly  for  this  purpose. 

It  is  quite  a  novel  sight  to  see  twenty  or  thirty  of  these  women  in 
their  oddities  of  dress,  or  even  the  scarcity  of  it,  picking  away  from 
the  great  piles  of  beans  before  them,  and  filling  huge  baskets  with 
the  bright  green  grain,  keeping  up  all  the  time  a  monotonous  chant 
ing,  in  which  each  one  takes  a  part,  interrupted  now  and  then  by  a 
stranger,  whose  advent  is  an  era  in  the  lives  of  these  out-of-the- world 
people,  and  who  immediately  address  him  with :  "  Da  me  medio,  mai 
tre  "  (give  me  five  cents,  master). 


496  LIFE   IN   THE   COFFEE   MOUNTAINS. 

The  second  quality  of  coffee,  called  el  primer,  or  lavado  (first  or 
washed),  is  that  of  which  the  largest  quantities  are  made,  being  the 
coffee  in  its  usual  size,  of  two  grains  to  the  berry,  sound  and  large. 
The  third  quality  is  the  poorer  or  refuse  coffee,  the  most  of  which  is 
retained  upon  the  place  and  used  or  sold  at  a  low  price  for  domestic 
consumption.  The  fine  Caracolillo  coffee  is  very  carefully  re-sifted 
and  picked  over  by  some  specially  skillful  hand. 

The  coffee,  being  now  ready  for  market,  is  placed  in  strong  canvas 
bags,  in  which  we  see  it,  and  each  one  of  which  contains  about  one 
hundred  and  seven  pounds.  It  is  then  forwarded  to  the  commission 
merchant  in  the  town,  to  be  sold  for  account  of  the  owner,  or  is 
sometimes  bought  outright  by  the  merchants. 

The  transporting  of  the  coffee  to  market  is  a  business  of  itself,  and 
is  generally  carried  on  by  some  native  Indian,  the  owner  of  large  num 
bers  of  mules,  though  on  some  of  the  estates  where  horses  are  plenty 
the  proprietors  send  down  their  own  trains.  These  consist  of  from  a 
dozen  to  thirty  or  forty  horses  or  mules,  which  have  upon  their  backs 
the  most  old-fashioned,  useless  packs  that  can  be  made,  being  simply 
huge  walls  of  straw,  sometimes  covered  with  canvas,  rarely  leather, 
roughly  put  together,  and  retained  upon  the  horses  by  girths  and 
ropes,  or  canvas  breeching,  which  sometimes  are  fancifully  decorated 
with  fringe,  as  is  also  the  head  stall,  particularly  of  the  leader,  who 
has  also  a  string  of  bells  upon  his  neck,  in  Spanish  muleteer  fashion. 
Upon  there  rude  pack-saddles  the  coffee  is  strapped,  a  bag  on  each 
side,  c'ver  which  a  cloth  or  matting  of  the  palm  is  thrown,  to  keep  it 
from  the  rain.  Each  train  is  now  arranged  with  the  head  of  one 
horse  tied  to  the  tail  of  the  one  in  front  of  him,  the  guide  and  his 
assistant  mount  their  horses,  and  the  train  is  started  down  the  moun 
tain  to  the  village. 

It  is  quite  a  novel  as  well  as  pretty  sight  to  see  these  trains  taking 
their  way  down  the  hill-side ;  the  long  line  of  mules,  with  their 
curious  burdens,  winding  in  and  out  of  the  romantic  road,  the  gay 
appearance  of  the  leader,  the  musical  sound  of  his  bells,  and  the 
shouts  of  the  mulzteros,  all  serve  to  make  up  a  picture  strange  and 
interesting. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 
Rural   Life  and   Customs. 

"  XT  O  traveler,"  says  N.  P.  Willis,  "  except  for  some  special  or 

^^  overruling  reason,  leaves  willingly  Havana;"  but  as  we 
like  contrast,  and  are  fond  of  seeking  the  Cosas  de  Cuba, 
both  of  town  and  country,  we  seek  the  contrast,  as  Baron  Humboldt 
writes  it,  that  "  one  encounters  in  leaving  the  capital  (Havana),  for 
the  country,  and  exchanging  its  civilization,  partial  and  local,  for  the 
simplicity  of  manners  and  customs  that  reigns  in  the  isolated  farms 
and  little  villages  of  the  Island." 

Besides  this,  for  an  invalid  traveler  who  has  been  passing  all  his 
winter  in  the  tropics  it  is  not  wise,  even  if  safe,  to  go  north  until  the 
chill  of  winter  days  is  there  thoroughly  thawed  from  the  atmosphere 
by  the  genial  rays  of  an  early  June  sun ;  and  as  Havana  has  no 
longer  attractions  for  us  out  of  season,  we  turn  to  the  country. 

There  is  much  pleasure,  too,  in  wandering  about  among  some  of 
these  little  villages  in  the  bright,  hot  days  of  the  Cuban  spring,  when 
the  early  rains  for  an  hour  or  two  each  day  only  serve  to  brighten  up 
the  landscape  and  freshen  the  air  a  little.  Making,  therefore,  our 
headquarters  in  such  places  as  Giiines,  where  there  are  tolerable 
accommodations,  and  where  such  lovely  views  of  the  valley  of  Giiines 
are  afforded  from  the  "  Hill  of  Fire,"  we  run  out  to  San  Antonio  or 
Marianao,  where  we  get  a  sea  breath,  with  a  whiff  of  ocean,  fresh  and 
strong,  or  even  to  Mariel  or  Cabanas,  twenty-five  miles  along  the 
coast. 

There  is  the  pueblo  of  San  Cristobal,  too,  in  the  Vuelta  Abajo,  in 
a  beautiful  country,  easily  accessible  by  railroad,  and  at  a  short  dis 
tance  from  which  are  the  romantic  Falls  of  the  Rosario.  This,  too, 
is  the  district  sanctified  in  the  cause  of  freedom  by  the  struggles  and 
final  capture  of  Lopez,  in  his  unsuccessful  attempt  at  revolution,  his 
32  497 


493  RURAL  LIFE  AND   CUSTOMS. 

fate  being  sealed  almost  within  sight  of  this  beautiful  cascade ;  for, 
having  had  an  engagement  with  the  Spanish  troops,  he  with  seven 
companions  fled,  when  they  fell  into  the  power  of  a  party  of  sixteen 
of  the  peasants  of  that  section,  and  being  sent  up  to  Havana,  were 
there  garroted. 

In  another  chapter  there  has  been  given  an  account  of  the  manner 
in  which  the  subdivisions  of  land  in  Cuba  obtained  their  names,  and 
it  only  remains  now  to  speak  specially  of  one  of  these,  first  of 
which  is  the  "  Estancia,"  the  most  humble  of  the  rural  properties, 
but  nevertheless  the  one  that  produces  or  can  produce  the  best  returns 
to  its  cultivator.  Situated  in  the  vicinity  of  the  cities  or  of  the  large 
villages,  its  purpose  is  to  raise  for  their  markets  garden  stuff,  small 
meats,  fruits,  chickens,  eggs,  milk,  cheese,  and  other  articles  of  gen 
eral  and  necessary  consumption ;  also  forage,  or  fodder  rather,  for 
the  horses  maintained  in  the  towns. 

Antiquated  Farming. 

The  size  of  these  places  varies  from  a  dozen  acres  to  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five,  many  of  them  being  cultivated  by  tenants  only,  who 
pay  a  rent  of  about  two  hundred  dollars  per  year  for  thirty  or  forty 
acres.  This  system  of  farming,  so  opposed  to  the  real  advancement 
of  agriculture,  and  the  indolence  natural  to  the  laborers  accustomed 
to  expect  from  the  fertility  of  the  soil  what  their  labor  ought  at  least 
to  assist  in  bringing  forth,  keep  these  places  in  a  state  of  backward 
ness.  Only  a  small  part  is  devoted  to  garden  stuff,  which  requires 
care,  while  not  much  more  is  put  in  melons,  plantains,  and  potatoes, 
more  than  one-half  usually  being  sown  with  maloja,  a  kind  of  corn, 
which  grows  without  giving  good  grain,  and  is  cut  green  for  the  fod 
der  of  animals  which  prefer  it  to  any  other  kind  of  grass  food.  -;.*»• 

The  fruit-trees  are  not  renewed,  and  the  principal  care  of  the 
estancieroy  or  farmer,  is  the  raising  of  chickens  and  cows;  and  it  is 
from  this  reason,  in  part,  that  there  is  a  scarcity  of  garden  sturf 
and  fruits  in  the  local  markets — a  scarcity  that  is  augmented  when 
they  cheapen  the  other  products,  and  when  the  crop  of  beans,  onions, 
potatoes,  peas,  etc.,  does  not  amount  to  the  smallest  part  of  the 


RURAL   LIFE  AND    CUSTOMS.  499 

quantity  consumed,  although  the  towns  are  surrounded  by  innumer 
able  acres  of  uselessly  fertile  land. 

In  many  of  these  estancias  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  is  abandoned 
for  the  business  of  lime-burning  and  the  raising  of  sufficient  fodder 
for  the  oxen  that  draw  the  lime  to  market.  The  dwelling-houses  on 
these  places  are  small  and  of  moderate  expense  in  construction,  and 
the  number  of  negroes  does  not  exceed,  on  the  best  of  these  places, 
five  negroes  to  every  forty  or  fifty  acres,  the  land  being  worth  about 
sixty  dollars  per  acre. 

A  Succulent  Vegetable. 

The  sweet-potato  is  the  principal  vegetable  raised  on  these  estan 
cias,  and  is  mostly  of  two  kinds — the  white  and  yellow.  It  is  similar 
to  ours,  and  is  eaten  in  the  same  way,  and  is  produced  all  the  year 
round.  The  white  (or  Irish)  potato  is  not  raised  on  the  Island  in  any 
quantity,  being  poor  and  small;  large  quantities  are,  therefore,  im 
ported. 

"  El  name"  is  the  tuber,  solid  and  heavy,  juicy,  white  or  yellow, 
and  very  nutritious,  being  stewed  with  meat.  This  name  is  given  it 
by  the  negroes,  though  its  Indian  name  is  "  aje"  It  weighs  five  or 
six  pounds,  and  has  even  been  known  to  weigh  as  much  as  twenty- 
five  pounds.  The  negroes  prefer  it  to  any  other  vegetable,  making 
several  dishes  from  it  by  compounding  it  with  other  things.  It  is  of 
somewhat  the  same  nature  as  the  yam. 

Platanos  are  raised  also  in  large  quantities.  On  all  these  places 
are  raised  lettuce,  cabbage,  and  many  nutritious  seeds,  most  of  which 
flourish  the  year  round.  Where  the  estancia  is  large,  and  managed 
with  judgment,  there  are  a  great  many  fruits  of  various  kinds  raised; 
but  it  would  be  hard  to  find  in  the  whole  Island  an  orchard,  such  as 
we  understand  one  to  be.  Our  system  of  intelligent  gardening,  farm 
ing,  and  fruit-raising  would  prove  very  profitable ;  for  the  whole 
Island  is  a  perfect  garden  naturally,  and  with  very  little  attention, 
almost  everything  grows  in  abundance. 

Gardening  as  a  business  does  not  seem  as  yet  to  be  followed  by 
the  Cubans,  and  the  only  flower-gardens  that  one  sees  are  those 


500  RURAL   LIFE  AND    CUSTOMS. 

attached  to  private  houses,  or,  occasionally,  small  ones  near  the 
towns.  Some  of  these  private  gardens  are  remarkably  beautiful,  laid 
out  with  great  taste,  and  presenting,  when  they  are  confined  simply 
to  flowers,  a  most  brilliant  appearance  with  their  very  highly  colored 
plants.  At  Marianao,  Matanzas,  and  around  Havana,  one  sees  these 
in  perfection ;  but  the  most  lovely  gardens,  combined  with  fruits,  are 
those  attached  to  fine  sugar-estates,  if  we  except  such  as  the  Cantero 
gardens,  at  Trinidad,  and  the  public  gardens  on  the  paseo  Tacon. 

The  Bee  Industry. 

Upon  the  fincas,  or  small  country  places,  attention  is  paid  more 
particularly  to  raising  and  keeping  bees,  from  which  large  quantities 
of  wax  and  honey  are  produced,  the  former  being  quite  an  import 
ant  article  of  export.  There  are  two  kinds  of  bees  used  on  the  Island, 
the  comuu,  or  exotic,  brought  from  Florida,  and  the  sriolla,  or 
native  bee.  The  little  honey  produced  by  the  latter  is  used  by  the 
Cubans  for  medicinal  purposes,  the  dark-colored  wax,  under  the 
name  of  "  virgin  wax,"  serving  as  lights  for  the  poor  of  the  country. 

The  imported  bee  creates  one  of  the  principal  sources  of  rural 
riches,  as  its  products  are  exported  in  considerable  quantities,  its 
honey  even  being  sent  abroad,  while  the  white  and  yellow  wax  pro 
duced  are  well-known  articles  of  commerce ;  in  addition  to  which, 
large  quantities  are  retained  for  domestic  use  in  the  churches,  at 
funerals,  etc. 

In  a  district  where  these  rural  places  are  of  a  good  class,  and 
potreros  are  found,  it  is  pleasant  to  mount  one's  horse,  and  ride  round 
amongst  them,  as  the  owners,  particularly  of  the  better  class,  are 
quite  intelligent  about  their  own  business,  and  always  kind  to  the 
stranger ;  having,  notwithstanding  their  rustic  life,  a  certain  air  of 
easy  politeness,  peculiar  to  the  people  of  the  Latin  race.  And  almost 
the  first  thing  you  are  asked,  even  in  the  humblest  of  these  finca 
residences,  is,  "  Quiere  cafe,  Senor?"  (Will  you  have  coffee,  sir),  of 
which  beverage  these  people  are  very  fond.  The  houses  are  often 
very  humble  affairs  indeed,  as  regards  material,  though  they  may  be 
ample  in  number  of  rooms,  with  numerous  outbuildings. 


COCOANUT  TREE. 

It  has  a  cylindrical  stem,  about  one  and  one-half  feet  in  diameter, 
and  from  sixty  to  ninety  feet  high,  with  many  rings  marking  the  places 
of  former  leaves,  a  cluster  oY  leaves  at  the  top,  generally  curving  down 
ward,  and  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet  in  length. 


THE  TRAVELLER'S  PALM. 

This  is  a  fine  specimen  of  one  variety  of  the  palm.  It  is  easy  to 
understand  how  it  obtains  its  name,  as  the  engraving  represents  travellers 
enjoying  its  grateful  shade. 


RURAL   LIFE   AND    CUSTOMS.  501 

They  are  usually  composed  of  one  story,  roughly  constructed  of 
poles,  palm-leaves,  and  thatch,  put  together  in  such  a  way  as  to  be 
impervious  to  rain,  yet  light  enough  to  admit  plenty  of  air,  especially 
as  the  doors,  if  there  are  any,  always  stand  open.  A  living-room, 
with  a  sleeping-room  or  two,  all  on  the  same  floor,  which  is  often  of 
earth,  make  up  the  main  building,  while  a  simple  roof  connects  it 
with  an  outbuilding,  where  is  the  kitchen,  in  which  are  performed  the 
household  and  other  duties  of  the  women. 

Many  of  these  women,  be  it  said  to  their  credit,  are  more  indus 
trious  than  the  men,  as  they  attend  to  their  domestic  duties,  often 
weave  cotton  cloth  for  home  consumption  from  the  small  amount  of 
cotton  raised,  and  have  a  general  superintendence  over  the  place. 
Cotton,  by-the-by,  though  it  cannot  be  said  to  be  one  of  the  products 
of  the  Island,  does  grow  in  sufficient  quantity  to  manufacture  out  of 
it  a  rough  kind  of  cloth,  used  by  the  country  people.  Every  attempt 
to  cultivate  it  systematically  has  been  a  failure  ;  and  yet  in  the  Coffee 
Mountains  one  may  see  beautiful  cotton  growing  wild,  in  small  lots, 
but  the  moment  it  is  attended  to  and  looked  after,  strange  to  say,  it 
ceases  to  flourish. 

It  is  upon  these  rural  places  also  that  the  Cascarilla  cosmetic 
powder,  so  great  a  favorite  with  Cuban  ladies,  is  prepared  from  the 
egg-shells  ;  and  the  extent  to  which  this  is  used  may  be  imagined, 
when  it  is  estimated  that  there  are  over  one  hundred  thousand  pounds 
consumed  every  year. 

The  last  of  the  rural  places  we  are  called  upon  to  notice  is  the 
"  Hacienda  de  Crianza,"  or  sitioy  as  it  is  called — an  uncultivated,  un 
enclosed  place,  where  the  cattle  are  allowed  to  run  wild,  unattended 
except  by  the  montero,  who  goes  about  on  foot,  or  the  half-savage 
sabanero,  who,  being  mounted,  rides  in  amongst  the  herd.  Their 
united  business  is  to  scour  the  fields  every  day,  and  pick  out  the  new 
born  calves,  with  their  mothers,  and  take  care  of  them  for  fifteen. or 
twenty  days  at  the  houses  or  sheds ;  to  see  if  there  are  any  dead 
animals,  or  to  pick  out  those  ready  to  send  to  market  or  kill  for  con 
sumption. 

"The  rural  population  of  the  Island,"  says  a  Cuban  author,  "has 


502  RURUL   LIFE   AND    CUSTOMS. 

rusticity,  but  not  that  boasted  simplicity  of  the  European  laborer. 
Our  guajiro  (countryman)  is  astute  though  frank,  boastful  though 
brave,  and  superstitious  if  not  religious.  His  ruling  passions  are 
gambling  (particularly  at  cock-fights,  of  which  he  is  very  fond),  and 
coffee,  which  he  drinks  at  all  hours ;  his  favorite  food,  pork  and  the 
platano,  usually  roasted." 

His  costume  consists  of  a  pair  of  loose  pantaloons,  girdled  at  the 
waist  with  a  bit  of  leather,  a  shirt  of  fancy-colored  linen,  a  handker 
chief  of  silk  or  cotton  tied  around  his  neck,  or,  more  frequently, 
about  his  head,  upon  which  is  a  broad-brimmed  hat  of  yarey — a 
species  of  common  palm-leaf — while  his  usually  bare  feet  are  thrust 
into  common  leather  pumps  or  slippers.  Rarely  does  he  wear  a 
coat,  even  if  he  owns  one,  and  his  shirt  is  worn  more  generally 
outside  than  inside  his  pants. 

Takes  Life  Easy. 

He  never  works  regularly,  nor  does  much  else  than  direct  the  cul 
tivation  of  his  property,  look  after  the  cattle,  or,  perhaps,  act  as  carter 
or  teamster.  Sometimes  he  may  plow,  or  sow  a  little  grain,  or  even 
pick  fruit ;  but  if  he  employs  negroes  he  makes  them  do  the  work. 
Sometimes  he  does  a  little  trading  on  his  own  account,  and  may, 
perhaps,  keep  a  sort  of  country-store  and  tavern,  if  his  place  is  on  a 
public  road.  He  travels  on  horseback,  armed  invariably  with  the 
machete,  and  often  carrying  a  sun-umbrella,  taking  care  to  stop  at 
every  tavern  on  the  road,  where  he  is  ready  to  talk  with  any  one  he 
meets,  or  accept  an  invitation  to  drink. 

La  guajira  (country  woman)  is  not  so  talkative  as  the  husband, 
particularly  with  strangers,  to  whom  her  partially  Castilian  blood 
makes  her,  at  first,  ceremonious  and  dignified,  even  rising  to  receive 
them.  She  can  mount  a  horse,  though  she  usually  rides  with  her 
husband,  sitting  in  front  of  him,  upon  the  neck  of  the  horse  almost, 
while  his  right  arm  encircles  her.  She  dresses  in  the  most  simple 
manner  (often  a  little  too  much  so)  in  a  camison,  or  frock,  with  a 
kerchief  around  her  neck  ;  seldom  wearing  stockings,  except  on  state 
occasions — of  a  ball,  visit,  etc.,  her  head  often  being  covered  with  a 


RURAL   LIFE  AND   CUSTOMS.  503 

huge  straw  hat  when  she  moves  about,  but  otherwise  dressed  with 
the  utmost  care  to  display  to  advantage  her  superb  hair. 

These  country  people  all  have  manners  and  customs  peculiar  to 
themselves,  even  their  food  being  different  from  that  of  the  cities  ;  and 
it  is  amongst  them  one  can  study  the  Cuban  cuisine.  They  have  but 
two  meals  a  day,  always  accompanied  by  coffee,  which  they  also  take 
on  rising  in  the  morning,  at  night-time,  and  at  any  hour  of  the  day 
they  fancy,  or  may  have  a  guest.  Civilization  has  found  its  way 
even  to  the  homes  of  these  simple  people  ;  and,  on  the  richer  and 
larger  places,  English  beer  is  now  generally  used,  and  to  strangers 
even  champagne  is  presented. 

Entertaining  Guests. 

So  natural  a  custom  is  it  with  these  hospitable  country  people  to 
entertain  the  guest,  that,  does  he  happen  to  be  present  when  a  meal 
is  announced,  he  is  not  even  honored  with  an  invitation,  but  he  is 
expected,  as  the  most  natural  thing  in  the  world,  to  seat  himself  at 
the  table  and  partake  of  their  food,  whatever  it  may  be.  To  refuse 
to  do  so,  unless  he  has  the  excuse  to  make  that  he  has  lately  eaten, 
would  be  considered  an  offense.  As  the  service  of  the  table,  in  most 
of  the  cities,  at  all  the  hotels,  and  many  of  the  best  private  houses 
partakes  of  the  nature  of  French  cooking,  it  is  only  in  the  rural  parts 
one  can  see  the  bonafide  Cuban  dishes. 

The  daily  meals  of  the  more  humble  farmers  consist  of  fried  pork 
and  boiled  rice  in  the  morning,  and,  in  lieu  of  bread,  the  roasted 
plantain.  At  dinner,  they  make  use  of  cow-beef,  jerked  beef,  birds, 
and  roasted  pig ;  but  usually  this  meal  consists  of  roasted  plantains, 
and  the  national  dish  of  ajiaco,  or  what  we  should  call  an  Irish  stew. 
This  dish  is  to  the  Island  what  olla  podrida  is  to  Spain.  It  is  com 
posed  of  fresh  meat,  either  beef  or  pork — dried  meat  of  either — all 
sorts  of  vegetables,  young  corn,  and  green  plantains.  It  is  made 
with  plenty  of  broth,  thickened  with  a  farinaceous  root  known  as 
malanga,  and  has  also  some  lemon-juice  squeezed  into  it.  It  is 
toothsome,  cheap,  and  nutritious — quite  equal  to  the  French  pot 
au  feu, 


504  RURAL   LIFE  AND    CUSTOMS. 

Boiled  rice  is  never  dispensed  with  at  any  meal,  and  the  cooking 
of  it  is  understood  to  perfection.  It  is  used  mixed  in  all  their  stews, 
or  with  a  simple  sauce  of  tomatoes.  El  aporreado  is  made  of  half 
raw  meat,  dressed  with  water,  vinegar,  salt,  etc.,  which  operation  is 
known  as  perdigar  (or  stewing  in  an  earthen  pan) ;  then  mashed  and 
stirred  together,  it  is  fried  slightly  in  a  sauce  of  lard,  tomatoes,  garlic, 
onions,  and  peppers.  Hashes  are  always  good  upon  the  Island — town 
or  country — even  if  one  does  not  know  who  made  them.  The  tasajo 
brujo,  or  jerked  beef  bewitched,  so  called  from  the  fact  that  it  giows 
so  much  larger  in  cooking,  is  the  dish  found  almost  everywhere,  and 
cooked  in  many  ways. 

Amusements  of  Country  People. 

It  is  almost  always  a  savory  dish  the  traveler  need  not  be  afraid 
of,  particularly  if  he  has  had  army  experience.  There  are  some 
other  dishes,  but  with  the  knowledge  of  the  above  the  stranger  will 
be  safe  to  accept  an  invitation  to  dine  with  any  of  the  hacendados> 
and  it  will  also  be  seen  that  Cuban  cookery  is  not  such  a  fearful  thing 
as  we  have  been  led  to  believe  ;  for  little  or  no  oil  is  used,  and  the 
small  quantity  of  garlic  used  is  so  disguised  in  other  things  that  few 
people  could  tell  it.  These  country  folks  also  have  their  special 
amusements  as  well  as  cookery.  First  upon  the  list  stand  the  cock 
fights. 

Every  village,  or  pueblo,  has  a  patron  saint,  for  whom  there  is  a 
special  dia  de  fiesta,  which  all  the  villagers  and  people  in  the  vicinity 
celebrate  with  masses,  etc,  at  the  village  church,  and  afterwards  by 
games,  dancing,  and  sports,  the  women  taking  part  also  as  spectators 
if  in  no  other  way.  But  usually  they  are  divided  into  two  parties, 
each  party  being  distinguished  by  the  color  of  the  ribbon  it  wears, 
and  which  gives  its  name  to  the  band. 

Each  party  elects  a  queen,  chosen  for  her  grace,  beauty,  or  good 
style,  and  the  admirers  of  each  are  known  as  vassals,  and  they  give 
their  presence  to  the  amusement  going  on.  When  the  performers 
belonging  to  one  party  or  the  other  are  successful,  the  vanquished 
party  with  its  queen  and  vassals  has  to  render  homage  to  the  rival 


RURAL   LIFE  AND    CUSTOMS.  505 

queen.  The  goose-fight  is  another  one  of  their  sports,  and  a  very 
cruel  one  it  is  ;  for  in  a  plaza  or  smooth  field  two  forked  poles  are  set 
up,  and  from  one  to  the  other  a  rope  is  stretched ;  in  the  middle  of 
this  a  live  goose  is  hung,  firmly  tied  by  the  feet. 

The  place  is  now  filled  with  spectators,  while  five,  ten,  or  fifteen 
mounted  guajiros  pass  at  full  gallop  in  front  of  the  goose,  and 
attempt  to  seize  the  head,  which  has  been  well  greased,  and  separate 
it  from  the  body  in  their  full  career.  Of  course  many  unsuccessful 
attempts  are  made,  and  the  bird  usually  dies  before  the  efforts  are 
successful,  but  he  who  succeeds  in  this  glorious  attempt  is  declared 
victor. 

Feasts  and  Celebrations. 

Las  loas  (or  prologues)  are  practiced  in  the  country  villages  in 
their  religious  feasts  and  civil  celebrations, — as  processions  of  the 
Holy  Virgin  or  the  Patron  Saint,  etc.  A  little  girl,  dressed  (or 
undressed)  as  an  image,  is  conducted,  publicly,  in  a  small  cart  pro 
fusely  decorated  with  banners,  flowers,  and  branches ;  before  her, 
march  on  horseback  four  or  six  men,  in  costumes  of  Indians,  and 
behind,  others  clad  as  Moors.  A  band  plays,  and  the  procession, 
which  is  composed  of  almost  all  the  people  of  the  village,  when 
arrived  at  the  appointed  place  stops,  and  the  child  stands  up  and 
recites  or  declaims  her  loa,  a  composition  appropriate  to  the  subject 
of  the  celebration. 

Altares  de  Cruz — the  custom  of  forming  altars  in  the  houses  in  the 
first  days  of  May,  in  order  to  celebrate  the  invention  of  the  Holy 
Cross,  is  preserved  very  generally  in  the  interior  of  the  Island,  but 
with  a  character  almost  entirely  profane.  The  altar  is  erected  mod 
estly  in  a  sleeping-room  of  the  house,  on  the  3d  of  May,  or  day  of 
Santa  Cruz,  and  on  every  day  of  the  first  nine,  the  guests  gather 
before  it,  to  dance,  sing,  play,  and  eat  and  drink  at  times.  On  the 
first  night,  the  master  of  the  house  delivers  a  branch  of  flowers  to  the 
guest  that  he  chooses,  and  the  latter  contracts,  in  receiving  it,  the 
obligation  to  re-form  the  altar,  and  pay  the  expenses  of  the  next 
night's  entertainment,  he  himself  taking  the  name  of  the  godfather. 

The  second  night  arrived,  the  godfather  or  godmother  renews  this 


506  RURAL   LIFE  AND    CUSTOMS. 

performance  of  the  branch  upon  another  victim,  and  it  thus  happens 
that  each  altar  has  a  new  godfather  for  each  night,  and  as  every  one 
endeavors  to  do  better  than  his  predecessor,  it  happens  that  the  last 
night  winds  up  the  festival  with  a  superb  supper  and  a  full  orchestra. 

Mamarrachos  is  the  name  given  to  the  individuals  on  horseback, 
who,  in  a  great  part  of  the  Vuelta  Arriba,  ride,  masked  and  gro 
tesquely  costumed,  through  the  streets,  during  the  Carnival  or  other 
seasons  of  merry-making.  Surprise  parties  are  very  numerous,  not 
only  amongst  the  country  people,  but  at  the  watering-places  during 
the  season. 

The  country  dances,  however,  are  something  especially  peculiar, 
many  old-fashioned  customs  and  figures  being  retained,  although  the 
usual  waltzes  and  contra-dances  are  danced,  too,  while  the  former  are 
less  formal,  being  the  social  meetings  of  intimate  friends  or  neigh 
bors. 

.  The  especial  dance  is  the  one  known  as  the  zapateo,  and  is  peculiar 
to  this  Island.  It  is  danced  to  the  music  of  the  harp,  the  guitar,  or 
the  songs  of  the  guajiros,  by  both  women  and  men,  and  has  a  good 
many  peculiar  figures,  the  principal  object  appearing  to  be  for  the 
women  to  see  how  many  men  they  can  tire  out,  as  they  give  every 
now  and  then  a  signal  to  their  vis  &  vis  "  to  leave,"  when  he  is 
replaced  by  another.  A  low  humming  or  singing  is  kept  up  by 
those  present,  broken  every  now  and  then  by  the  loud  plaudits  of  the 
spectators  at  the  success  of  some  dancer. 

In  many  sections  of  the  country  one  still  finds  sugar  estates, 
almost  as  they  were  originally,  in  the  possession  of  owners  of  mode 
rate  means  and  little  intelligence,  who  have  not  availed  themselves  of 
the  advantages  afforded  by  improved  machinery  and  scientific  modes 
of  making  sugar. 

Some  of  the  places,  agaii.,  are  so  poor  in  soil  and  product,  having 
been  worked  for  so  many  years  without  intermission,  that  the  owners 
do  not  deem  it  worth  while,  even  if  they  can  afford  the  outlay,  to  put 
up  new-  mills  and  machinery, — much  preferring  to  try  new  land. 
Still,  the  country  is  improving  in  its  agricultural  pursuits  of  all  kinds, 
though  in  none  has  it  made  such  rapid  strides  as  in  sugar-making. 


RURAL   LIFE  AND    CUSTOMS.  507 

Cuba  is  divided,  rather  indefinitely,  into  two  unequal  portions — 
the  "  Vuelta  Arriba,"  or  higher  valley,  and  the  "  Vuelta  Abajo,"  or 
lower  valley.  General  usage  seems  to  settle  the  point,  that  the 
"Vuelta  Abajo"  is  all  that  fertile  'low  country  lying  to  the  west  of 
Havana ;  at  all  events,  it  is  only  from  that  section  that  the  true  "  Vuelta 
Abajo  "  tobacco  comes,  and  it  is  also  there  that  one  finds  not  only 
sugar  but  coffee-growing  estates. 

Beautiful  Section  of  Country. 

Guanajay  is  a  small  and  prettily-situated  village  on  the  grand  mail 
route,  that  runs  through  the  "  Vuelta  Abajo."  The  town  lies  in  the 
heart  of  a  beautiful  section  of  country,  some  twelve  miles  from  the 
sea.  To  the  north  of  it,  between  it  and  the  sea,  are  any  number  oi 
fine,  large  sugar  estates,  beautifully  situated  in  a  rolling  country, 
which  extends  to  the  very  borders  of  the  ocean,  upon  which,  and 
within  a  short  drive,  are  the  towns  of  Mariel  and  Cabanas,  upon  bays 
of  the  same  names. 

The  best  properties  known  as  vegas,  or  tobacco  farms,  are  com 
prised  \n  a  narrow  area  in  the  south-west  part  of  the  Island,  about 
twenty-seven  leagues  long  by  about  seven  broad,  shut  in  on  the  north 
by  mountains,  and  on  the  south-west  by  the  ocean,  Pinar  del  Rio 
being  the  principal  point  in  the  district. 

These  vegas  are  found  generally  on  the  margins  of  rivers,  or  in 
low,  moist  localities,  their  ordinary  size  amounting  to  about  thirty- 
three  acres  of  our  measurement.  The  half  of  this  is  also  most  fre 
quently  devoted  to  the  raising  of  the  banana,  which  may  be  said  to 
be  the  bread  of  the  lower  classes.  A  few  other  small  vegetables  are 
raised. 

The  usual  buildings  upon  such  places  are  a  dwelling-house,  a  dry 
ing-house,  a  few  sheds  for  cattle,  and,  perhaps,  a  small  hut  or  two. 
made  in  the  rudest  manner,  for  the  shelter  of  the  hands,  who,  upon 
some  of  the  very -largest  places,  number  twenty  or  thirty,  though  not 
always  negroes — for  this  portion  of  the  labor  of  the  Island  seems  to 
be  performed  by  the  lower  classes  of  whites.  Some  of  the  places 
that  are  large  have  a  mayoral,  as  he  is  called,  a  man  whose  business 


508  RURAL   LIFE  AND    CUSTOMS. 

it  is  to  look  after  the  negroes,  and  direct  the  agricultural  labors ;  but, 
as  a  general  thing,  the  planter,  who  is  not  always  the  owner  of  the 
property,  but  simply  the  lessee,  lives  upon,  directs,  and  governs  the 
place. 

Guided  by  the  results  of  a  long  experience,  transmitted  from  his 
ancestors  (says  a  Spanish  author),  the  farmer  knows,  without  being 
able  to  explain  himself,  the  means  of  augmenting  or  diminishing  the 
strength  or  mildness  of  the  tobacco.  His  right  hand,  as  if  guided  by 
an  instinct,  foresees  what  buds  it  is  necessary  to  take  off  in  order  to  put 
a  limit  to  the  increase  or  height,  and  what  amount  of  trimming  is 
necessary  to  give  a  chance  to  the  proper  quantity  of  leaves.  But  the 
principal  care,  and  that  which  occupies  him  in  his  waking  hours,  is 
the  extermination  of  the  voracious  insects  that  persecute  the  plant. 
One  called  cachaga  domesticates  itself  at  the  foot  of  the  leaves ;  the 
verde,  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves ;  the  rosquilla,  in  the  heart  of 
the  plant ;  all  of  them  doing  more  or  less  damage. 

Fighting  a  Plague. 

The  planter  passes  entire  nights,  provided  with  lights,  cleaning  the 
buds  just  opening,  of  these  destructive  insects.  He  has  even  to  carry 
on  a  war  with  still  worse  enemies — a  species  of  large,  native  ants, 
that  are  to  the  tobacco  what  the  locust  is  to  the  wheat.  This  plague 
is  so  great  at  times,  that  prayers  and  special  adoration  are  offered  up 
to  San  Marcial  to  intercede  against  the  plague  of  ants. 

Tobacco  of  the  best  quality,  such  as  is  produced  in  the  choice  vegas 
of  the  "  Vuelta  Abajo,"  is  known  by  its  even  tint  of  rich  dark  brown 
and  freedom  from  stains,  burning  freely,  when  made  into  cigars,  with 
a  brown  or  white  ash,  which  will  remain  as  such  on  the  cigar,  some 
times,  till  it  is  half  smoked,  without  falling  off. 

The  city  of  Havana  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first  place  in  which 
tobacco  was  grown.  Its  culture  commenced  in  1580,  there  being 
nothing  heard  of  the  now-famed  "Vuelta  Abajo"  until  1790.  This  cul 
ture  is  one  that  has  increased  very  rapidly  in  the  Island  ;  it  being 
stated  upon  good  authority  that,  in  1 827,  there  were  only  five  thous 
and  five  hundred  and  thirty -four  tobacco  farms,  while  in  1846  there 


CONZALO    deQUESADA 

Charge  d' Affaires  of  the  Republic  of  Cuba,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


RURAL   LIFE  AND   CUSTOMS.  509 

were  more  than  nine  thousand,  and  in  1859  some  ten  thousand, 
which  shows  a  very  rapid  increase  indeed  ;  and  it  is  now  estimated 
that  the  tobacco  crop  alone  of  the  small  portion  of  the  Island  under 
cultivation  is  worth  from  eighteen  to  twenty  millions  of  dollars 
annually. 

Thirty-three  acres  of  ground  produce  about  nine  thousand  pounds 
of  tobacco.  From  these  figures,  taking  the  bale  at  one  hundred 
pounds,  and  the  average  price  of  the  tobacco  at  twenty  dollars  per 
,  bale  (though  this  is  a  low  estimate,  for  the  crops  of  some  of  the  vegas 
are  sold  as  high,  sometimes,  as  four  hundred  dollars  per  bale),  an  ap 
proximate  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  profit  of  a  large  plantation,  in  a 
good  year,  when  the  crops  are  satisfactory. 

Thrifty  Palm-trees. 

The  volante  with  three  horses  shows  a  peculiarity  of  fashionable 
volante-riding  in  the  country ;  the  calesero  riding  one  horse  and 
guiding  the  other  two,  the  three  being  harnessed  abreast;  the 
Sefioras,  meanwhile,  reclining  at  their  ease,  escorted  by  their  mounted 
attendant. 

The  palm-tree  is  probably  the  most  useful  if  not  the  most  beautiful 
tree  in  the  Island  of  Cuba,  and  is  found  in  every  portion  of  it,  giving 
at  once  character  and  beauty  to  the  scenery ;  and  that  known  as  the 
palma  real  (royal)  is  only  one  of  the  twenty- two  varieties  which  are 
enumerated  in  this  majestic  family  of  the  tropics.  Its  feathers  or 
branches  fall  airily  and  gracefully  from  the  top  of  a  cylindrical  irunk 
of  fifteen  or  twenty  yards  in  height ;  in  the  centre  of  the  branches  is 
the  heart  or  bud  of  the  plant,  elevating  itself  perpendicularly,  with 
its  needle-point  like  a  lightning-rod. 

This  heart,  enveloped  in  wrappers  of  tender  white  leaves,  makes  a 
most  nourishing  and  delicious  salad ;  it  is  also  boiled  like  cauliflower, 
and  served  with  a  delicate  white  sauce.  In  either  way  it  is  a  very 
agreeable  esculent  for  the  table.  The  branches,  numbering  from 
twenty  to  twenty-two,  are  secured  to  the  trunk  by  a  large  exfoliated 
capping,  and  between  each  scale  there  starts  out  one  of  the  feathers 
or  branches.  At  the  foot  of  these  burst  little  buds,  which  open  into 


510  RURAL   LIFE   AND    CUSTOMS. 

delicate  bunches  of  small  flowers,  followed  by  the  fruit  or  seed,  which 
is  used  as  nourishment  for  the  herds  of  hogs  on  the  breeding-farms ; 
it  is  also  used  as  a  substitute  for  coffee  amongst  the  poor  people  of 
some  portions  of  the  Island. 

The  trunk  of  the  palm  is  a  cylinder  or  tube,  filled  with  milky 
fibres,  which,  torn  off  in  long  strips  from  top  to  bottom,  are  dried,  and 
make  a  narrow,  thin  kind  of  board,  with  which  the  peasants  form 
the  walls  of  their  rustic  habitations  ;  while  the  branches  serve  as 
roofs  or  covering  to  their  lightly  constructed  houses ;  though  for 
this  latter  purpose  are  also  used  the  leaves  of  nearly  all  the  palms. 

The  leaves  serve  for  roofs  and  for  lining  the  walls  of  the  huts,  and 
for  general  purposes  of  shelter  for  the  country  people  of  Cuba  ; 
while  they  are  used  also  as  wrappers  for  bales  of  tobacco  and  other 
materials.  Torn  into  narrow  shreds,  they  answer  for  tying  packages 
in  lieu  of  twine. 

El  yarey  is  another  of  the  palms  that  merits  especial  mention ;  for 
from  it  they  make  the  excellent  palm-leaf  hats  that  are  commonly 
worn  on  the  Island  amongst  the  country  people  and  the  villagers, 
the  manufacture  of  which  constitutes  one  branch  of  industry  amongst 
the  women,  and  for  which  they  get  from  one  to  two  dollars  per  hat. 

Famous  Watering-Place. 

If  there  happens  to  be  a  party  of  friends  together  they  can  make 
the  trip  to  San  Diego,  and  pass  some  weeks  there  agreeably  enough, 
taking  care,  however,  to  carry  with  them  some  light  reading,  of  which 
none  can  be  had  either  in  Spanish  or  English,  in  the  town.  The 
country  around  is  quite  picturesque,  and,  like  almost  all  parts  of 
Cuba,  beautiful  in  the  novel  character  of  its  scenery  and  vegetation, 
while  there  are  numerous  objects  of  interest  to  visit  in  the  neighbor 
hood.  Of  course,  in  a  place  like  this,  if  the  traveler  can  speak  no 
Spanish,  he  is  thrown  entirely  upon  his  own  resources,  unless,  indeed, 
he  makes,  as  he  is  likely  to  do,  the  acquaintance  of  persons  who  can 
speak  English. 

One  of  the  excursions  which  can  be  made  in  the  neighborhood,  is 
that  to  the  "  Arcos  de  Caiguanabo/'  which  is  the  official  name  given 


RURAL  LIFE  AND   CUSTOMS.  511 

to  the  "  doors  "  or  caves  formed  by  the  river  San  Diego,  passing 
through  a  peculiar  natural  formation  of  rocks,  a  magnificent  and  im 
posing  arch  divided  by  a  grand  pillar,  the  arch  being  about  one  hun 
dred  feet  wide,  one  hundred  feet  long,  and  sixty  feet  high,  the  river 
running  quietly  beneath  it. 

Beneath  this  portal,  and  on  a  level  with  the  river,  upon  its  right 
bank  is  the  first  cave,  the  entrance  to  which  is  straight  and  stony, 
and  suddenly  opens  into  a  large  chamber  filled  with  quantities  of 
stalactites,  or  specimens  of  concrete  petrifactions  ;  columns  large  and 
small,  and,  in  fact,  a  thousand  figures  of  fantastic  and  capricious 
shapes,  which  a  fertile  imagination  can  liken  to  a  number  of  things. 
This  saloon  receives  the  light  by  two  apertures  that  permit  also  of 
exit  on  both  sides  of  the  hili. 

A  Journey  to  the  Caves. 

Beyond  the  arch,  and  reached  by  a  narrow  path  made  at  the  foot 
of  the  range  of  hills,  for  a  short  distance,  is  the  second  cave,  which 
presents  the  same  characteristics  as  the  first.  From  this  cave  there 
is  a  descent,  when,  following  the  base  of  the  hills  for  the  distance  o. 
about  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet,  another  ascent  is  made  by  a  path 
to  the  third  cave,  called  the  "  Cathedral,"  to  enter  which  it  is  neces 
sary  to  have  torches,  as  the  light  penetrates  no  farther  than  the  en 
trance.  The  dimensions  of  this  chamber  are  larger  than  those  of 
the  others.  The  world-wide  custom  of  inscribing  names  is  here 
noticed. 

The  journey  to  these  caves  is  made  mostly  on  horseback,  and  it  is 
quite  the  fashion  to  come  out  on  breakfast  picnics  here  amid  these  wild 
and  picturesque  scenes.  Those  who  have  been  fortunate  enough  to 
visit  the  caves  of  Bellamar,  near  Matanzas,  will  not  appreciate  these 
so  much. 

The  cave  of  "  Taita  Domingo,"  said  to  be  the  identical  cave  inhab 
ited  by  that  hardly-treated  but  diseased  negro  who  discovered  the 
baths,  is  to  the  northeast  of  the  town,  and  is  a  large  gloomy  cavern 
not  yet  explored.  With  a  good  guide  and  much  labor  the  traveler 
can  also  make  the  ascent  to  the  top  of  the  "  Loma  de  la  Guira,"  from 


512  RURAL   LIFE  AND   CUSTOMS. 

which  can  be  had  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  and  the 
north  and  south  seas ;  the  former  about  eighteen  miles  distant,  and 
the  latter  about  twenty-five. 

A  walk  or  ride  up  to  the  "  Casita  de  la  Loma,"  or  as  it  is  more 
properly  called,  "  Hermosa  Vista  "  (beautiful  view),  which  is  the  hill 
seen  to  the  north  from  the  Plaza  of  Isabel  II.,  is  good  exercise  and 
pleasant  occupation. 

In  addition  to  the  shooting,  which  can  be  had  in  the  mountains 
there  are  the  usual  diversions  in  the  way  of  balls  and  dancing,  at 
which  there  are  frequently  present  very  pretty  girls,  whilst  for  those 
whose  taste  runs  that  way  there  are  occasional  "  cock-fights." 

In  returning  from  San  Diego,  it  is  more  convenient  to  return  by 
the  western  railroad.  This  can  be  very  pleasantly  and  quickly 
accomplished  by  taking  a  horse  or  volante  to  San  Cristobal  and  the 
cars  from  that  place. 


Distinguished  Cuban  Patriots: 

The  Founders  of  Liberty. 

BY   GONZALO   DE   QUESADA, 
CHARGE  D'AFFAIRES  OF  THE  REPUBLIC  OF  CUBA.     . 

N*'>  c>ne  man  can  be  said  to  be  the  author  of  a  revolution,  which 
is  a  complex  result  of  many  heterogeneous  elements. 

The  Cuban  revolution,  more  than  the  work  of  any  one 
man  or  of  any  group  of  patriots,  is  the  natural  consequence  of  the 
secular  and  unique  policy  of  spoliation  of  the  mother  country.  Like 
a  torrent — and  this  popular  and  unanimous  uprising  is  an  irresistible 
one — this  revolution  has  been  growing  in  magnitude  and  power  as 
years  of  constant  oppression,  deluded  hopes,  and  repeated  mockery 
have  passed ;  its  turbulent  waters,  at  times  in  apparent  serenity,  now 
sweep  to  the  sea,  from  the  gray  peaks,  crowned  with  blue,  of  Santi 
ago  and  Pinar  del  Rio,  over  the  eternal  green  meadows  and  poetic 
palm-groves  of  the  Central  Provinces — to-day  in  imposing  desola 
tion — overwhelming  the  tottering  ruins  of  mediaeval  despotisms,  the 
institutions  of  slavery  and  immorality. 

And  when  the  inexhaustible  Cuban  fields,  purer  and  more  fertile 
by  this  necessary  commotion,  shall  teem  again  with  the  undulating 
foliage  of  the  canes,  when  our  vegas  and  cafetals  shall  blossom  as 
they  never  did  before,  with  their  snowy  flowers,  and  our  gorgeous 
birds  shall  in  delightful  harmony  intone  the  hymn  of  love  and 
remembrance  for  the  heroes  who  have  fallen ;  when  the  black  clouds 
of  the  blessed  hurricane  shall  have  disappeared,  there  shall  rise  on 
his  gigantic  pedestal  of  copper  and  iron  mountains,  illumined  by  the 
sun  of  liberty,  in  proud  contemplation  of  his  people,  happy  and 
redeemed,  the  sublime  figure  of  the  truest  and  bravest  of  patriots — 
of  the  Cuban  genius — Jose  Marti. 

If  ever  there  was  a  directing  hand  in  a  revolution   it  was  that  of 
33  513 


514  THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY. 

Jose  Marti  in  the  Cuban.  He  had  calculated  the  time  when  the 
tempest  would  break  forth,  and  had  prepared  the  conditions  so  that 
the  torrent  would  not  find  any  obstacles  in  its  way ;  he  had  prophe 
sied  its  march  and  triumph.  The  originality  of  this  extraordinary 
man  consisted  in  this  intuition,  in  this  ability  to  forecast  the  events 
which  were  to  follow  with  such  mathematical  exactness. 

His  life  is  like  the  symbol  of  his  country's  history ;  in  his  diverse 
and  versatile  accomplishments,  in  the  salient  virtues  of  his  character, 
he  embodied  those  of  his  native  land  ;  even  in  his  glorious  death  and 
his  immortality  we  see  the  future  of  Cuba  which  must  give  even  her 
blood  to  conquer  her  deserved  place  among  the  great. 

A  Noble  Patriot. 

Marti  was  born  when  Cuba  was  still  under  the  painful  impression 
of  the  execution  of  Lopez  and  Aguero,  two  years  before  the  liberal 
Catalan  Pinto  was  garroted  for  aspiring  to  Cuba's  independence.  Of 
Spanish  parents,  Marti  was  animated,  always,  as  are  all  the  Spaniards 
and  Cubans  who  fight  to-day  for  the  tri-color  flag,  by  the  highest 
aims ;  he  did  not  and  could  not  hate  the  Spaniards  as  individuals ;  he 
wanted  Cuba  for  all  the  honest  inhabitants  of  the  Island ;  he  would 
sever  the  connections  between  an  old  country,  incapable  by  its  con 
stitution  and  traditions  to  understand  modern  life  and  to  keep  pace 
with  civilization,  and  a  new  country  situated  in  the  very  heart  of  a 
continent  devoted  to  progress  and  freedom. 

He  would  drive  from  the  victim  the  vampire  which  has  for  five 
centuries  sucked  her  best  blood  ;  he  would  make  Cuba  independent 
of  Spain ;  he  would  not  exterminate  his  ancestors,  as  {he  ancestors 
would  exterminate  his  children  ;  he  would  constitute  a  nation  of 
cordiality,  of  enterprise ;  father  and  child  reconciled  under  a  gener 
ous  regime  ;  the  laboring  peasant  of  Spain,  employing  his  energies 
in  a  better  work  than  butchering  his  cousins,  and  his  cousins  dignified 
and  raised  to  freemen ;  where  all,  whatever  be  their  race,  creed  or 
nationality,  could  live  in  peace  and  prosperity. 

From  his  Valencian  father,  an  officer  in  the  Spanish  army,  there 
came  to  Marti  that  decision  and  bravery  which  stood  by  him  in  many 


THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY.  515 

a  dark  hour  of  his  existence  ;  from  his  mother  he  inherited  that 
tenacity  and  virtue  which  overcame  all  the  difficulties  of  his  life, 
filled  with  agony  and  almost  a  constant  struggle  from  his  childhood 
to  his  early  grave. 

Born  in  the  Capital,  where  vice  finds  an  easier  hold,  Marti  saw 
with  his  own  eyes  the  subtle  plans  of  Spain  to  enervate  the  Cuban 
youth  by  offering  all  the  facilities  of  prostitution,  and  at  the  same 
time  undermining  his  manhood  by  gambling  in  all  its  forms  :  the 
Royal  lottery  which  Spain  authorizes  because  she  derives  from  it  a 
large  income,  the  Monte,  the  Chinese  dens,  the  cock-pits ;  by  tempt 
ing  him  with  voluptuous  music  and  dance ;  by  discouraging  every 
legitimate  pastime,  anything  that  could  strengthen  or  elevate  him ; 
and  Marti's  life  was  the  immaculate  example,  in  his  school  and  col 
lege  days  and  in  his  subsequent  career,  of  virility  and  virtue. 

Story  of  His  Early  Life. 

His  early  years  were  passed  in  the  country,  where  he  acquired  that 
love  of  nature  which  afterwards  was  revealed  in  his  poetry;  he  was  a 
precocious  child  whom  it  was  impossible  to  keep  away  from  books ; 
many  a  time  he  was  surprised  in  the  stillness  of  the  night  by  his 
parents,  who  looked  with  disfavor  on  his  literary  proclivities,  reading 
by  the  light  of  the  moon  or  by  the  phosphorescence  of  the  Cocuyos, 
fire  beetles,  a  stray  volume  of  Dumas'  "The  Three  Musketeers,5'  or 
an  old  edition  of  the  Quixote  or  some  sonnets  of  Fray  Luis  de  Leon. 

Thus  his  inclinations  for  the  romantic,  as  well  as  for  the  highest 
models,  commenced  when  he  could  hardly  spell ;  his  first  verses  were 
his  first  punishments  ;  he  was  to  be  a  clerk  and  not  a  poet,  and  he  was 
chastised  ;  but  his  imagination,  his  love  of  the  beautiful,  his  exquisite 
taste  afterwards  gave  remarkable  fruits. 

The  family,  which  was  well-to-do,  was  forced  to  come  to  Havana. 
Marti,  from  his  open-air  surroundings,  was  now  to  become,  not  yet 
thirteen  years  of  age,  an  office  boy,  thrown  into  the  company  of  an 
arrogant  and  stupid  Spanish  shop-keeper  and  of  vulgar  emigrants, 
who  looked  on  the  little  Creole  with  disdain  and  jealousy.  The  boy 
mastered  arithmetic  wonderfully,  and  in  a  few  weeks  he  was  keeping 


516  THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY. 

the  books  of  the  firm ;  he  was  doing  all  the  work,  while  the  relatives 
and  friends  of  the  foreign  proprietor  were  getting  all  the  benefits  of 
his  industry. 

But  the  lad  was  of  steel ;  he  was  helping  his  family,  the  father  was 
yielding  slowly ;  he  had  consented  to  his  going,  after  business  hours, 
to  the  school  of  Mendive,  the  famous  Cuban  poet.  Marti  did  not 
complain ;  the  old  booksellers  had  become  his  friends ;  they  would 
allow  him  to  handle  the  old  tomes  and  the  new  volumes,  which  it  was 
his  custom  to  care  for  as  if  they  were  human  beings,  and  would  won 
der  at  the  brawny  youngster,  who  would  devour  a  work  standing  in 
front  of  those  cases  which  were  his  only  temptations.  Marti  was 
happy  because  an  old  wig-maker,  seeing  his  fondness  for  the  drama, 
would  send  him  with  the  blonde  tresses  for  the  leading  lady,  or  the 
fierce  mustachios  for  the  villain,  and  there  behind  the  scenes  he  could 
follow  the  plays  and  comedies,  which  years  afterwards  he  could 
repeat  from  memory. 

Thrown  into  Prison. 

There  sprung  up  between  Marti  and  his  master,  Mendive,  a  most 
loyal  friendship;  Marti  afterwards  became  his  favorite  pupil,  the 
manager  of  the  school,  and  in  1869,  when  the  delicate  poet  was  con 
fined  to  prison  for  his  political  opinions,  it  was  the  tender  regard  for 
his  necessities,  the  devotion  with  which  Marti  attended  to  his  family 
and  the  gentleness  and  constant  affection  of  the  grateful  boy,  which 
consoled  the  venerable  educator  in  his  hours  of  trial. 

It  was  shortly  afterwards  that  the  martyrdom  of  Jose  Marti  com 
menced.  He  was  sixteen,  when  he  published  his  first  clandestine 
newspaper,  in  Havana,  in  favor  of  the  revolution;  for  this,  for  his 
essay  of  a  tragedy  in  which  he  symbolized  the  Cuban  struggle,  and 
for  his  disinterested  action  of  claiming,  in  order  to  save  a  friend,  the 
authorship  of  an  article  against  the  Government,  he  was  thrown  into 
prison,  the  first  reward  of  the  Cuban  for  his  love  of  Country ! 

So  proud  was  he  that  he  refused  from  his  parents,  Spanish,  who 
did  not  sympathize  with  his  ideas,  any  aid ;  so  rebel  was  he  that  he 
would  not  let  his  mother  ask  for  pardon  in  his  name !  On  being 


THE   FOUNDERS    OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY.  517 

exiled  to  Spain,  he  fearlessly  exposed  before  the  metropolis,  without 
complaining  of  his  own  experiences,  the  horrors  that  he  had  seen 
committed :  the  old  men  bastinadoed  to  death,  the  innocent  chMdren 
wounded  by  the  swords,  the  contemptible  vices  fomented  by  their 
keepers,  the  men  who  died  for  want  of  food,  the  sick  agonizing,  i&. 
the  midst  of  the  laughter  of  their  tormentors. 

All  this  he  put  into  pages  which  are  to-day  just  as  true  as  they 
were  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  and  which  would  constitute  by  them 
selves  a  catalogue  of  crime  sufficient  to  call  forth  the  indignation  of 
civilized  people.  The  remedy  which  he  then  asked  for  these  abuses, 
moved  not  by  the  love  for  his  compatriots,  but  by  his  pity  for  human 
beings,  is  still  forthcoming ;  the  same  atrocities  depicted,  the  same 
terrible  deeds  are  of  daily  occurrence  in  the  same  blood-stained  Morro, 
in  the  unhealthy  Cabanas,  in  the  overcrowded  and  filthy  jails. 

A  Brilliant  Scholar. 

By  dint  of  perseverance,  with  his  once  robust  health  shattered  by 
the  twelve  months  spent  in  physical  and  moral  torture,  supporting 
himself  by  the  few  lessons  which  he  gave,  he  conquered  from  an 
adverse  faculty  at  Saragossa,  desirous  of  his  failure,  first  his  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  very  soon  after  that  of  Bache 
lor  of  Laws. 

He  went  to  Madrid ;  in  the  very  Capital  he  drew  that  touching 
invitation  to  prayer  for  the  souls  of  the  eight  students  shot  in  Havana 
in  1871,  and  on  the  morning  of  that  anniversary  there  was  no  church 
or  public  building  in  the  Spanish  metropolis,  on  which  the  tremen 
dous  accusation  was  not  affixed;  this  was  the  courageous  act  of  the 
few  surviving  companions  and  of  Jose  Marti. 

When  the  Republic  was  established,  a  Republic  which  proved 
better  than  anything  else  the  incapacity  of  the  Spaniards  to  govern 
themselves,  Marti  raised  his  voice  against  an  impossible  declaration 
of  the  Cubans  in  favor  of  the  Spanish  Republic,  which  was  aimed  to 
weaken  the  Cuban  Revolution.  For  seven  hours  the  young  orator, 
with  wonderful  eloquence  and  convincing  logic,  thwarted  the  plans  of 
the  enemies  of  the  war.  The  museums  where  he  studied  art,  and 


518  THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY. 

the  theatre  of   which   he   was   so  fond,  were  the   only  amusements 
which  his  hard  and  reduced  life  permitted. 

He*was  more  than  a  friend  to  the  Cuban  young  men  studying  in 
the  universities,  an  adviser  who  practiced  what  he  preached,  a 
quiz-master,  a  nurse  and  a  faithful  companion.  Many  a  one  to-day 
recalls  the  abnegation  with  which  he  cared  for  them  when  ill,  how  he 
would  scold  them  when  they  left  their  books,  how  he  established  a 
lodge  for  the  Cubans,  in  which  night  classes  were  given  to  the 
children  of  Madrid.  Many  a  physician  and  lawyer  to-day  earns  his 
living  with  the  diploma  that  Jose  Marti  made  them  obtain  ! 

Preparing  for  a  New  Uprising. 

In  1873,  he  escaped  and  went  to  Mexico,  where  he  called  his 
family  to  his  side  and  worked  for  their  support.  He  is  remembered 
there  by  the  brilliancy  of  his  journalism,  by  the  refined  talent  which 
he  showed  in  the  drama,  by  his  feeling  verses  and  by  his  magnificent 
orations.  Unwilling  to  accept  any  Government  position  which 
would  prevent  him  from  working  for  the  interests  of  Cuba,  he  never 
theless  accepted  the  representation  of  the  workingmen  in  a  labor 
congress. 

He  now  visited  Central  America.  In  Guatemala  he  became  Pro 
fessor  of  Philosophy  in  the  University  and  wrote  a  historical  drama 
on  the  independence  of  that  section  of  America. 

When  peace  was  signed  at  "  El  Zanjon,"  he  returned  to  Havana. 
He  knew  that  this  was  only  a  temporary  armistice  ;  that  the  Cubans 
had  been  duped ;  that  the  war  would  be  kindled  again  ;  that  it  was 
necessary  to  commence  on  the  morrow  of  the  defeat,  to  accumu 
late  the  elements  for  an  uprising  which  was  sooner  or  later  to  come. 
His  voice  rang  with  clarion  tones  in  the  literary  societies;  he  refused 
to  enter  the  Home  Rule  Party,  knowing  how  futile  would  be  its 
efforts,  and  on  becoming  known  that  if  sent  to  the  Spanish  Cortes, 
he  would  demand  for  the  good  of  Spain  as  much  as  for  the  Island, 
their  complete  separation,  his  name  was  withdrawn  from  the  list  of 
candidates ;  nevertheless  there  were  then  men  in  the  Province  of 
Santiago  de  Cuba  who  would  only  cast  their  votes  for  him. 


THE   FOUNDERS    OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY.  519 

Marti  became  the  centre  of  the  new  conspiracy  ;  General  Blanco, 
seeing  the  danger  of  having  such  a  man  within  the  Island,  sent  him 
to  Spain  in  confinement ;  from  there  he  escaped  by  way  of  France  and 
arrived  in  New  York  City,  where  with  General  Calixto  Garcia  he 
prepared  a  new  invasion  of  the  Island.  After  its  failure  he  went  to 
Venezuela,  where  he  devoted  himself  to  teaching  and  to  newspaper 
work ;  but  not  submitting  to  the  exigencies  of  Guzman,  he  returned 
to  New  York  City,  where  he  established  himself  definitely  in  1880, 
until,  in  the  month  of  January,  1895,  he  left  on  his  last  voyage. 

In  these  fifteen  years  the  amount  of  his  labors  was  marvelous ;  his 
unequaled  activity  exerted  itself  in  many  walks ;  but  whether  as  a 
teacher,  a  poet,  an  author,  a  diplomat  or  an  orator,  all  converged  to 
place  the  cause  of  Cuba  before  the  world,  and  to  acquire  sympathies 
for  her  impending  revolution. 

Masterly  Essays  and  Orations. 

In  the  "  Hour "  he  wrote,  in  his  then  quaint  English,  delicious 
articles  on  art,  and  that  generous  American,  Mr.  Charles  A.  Dana, 
patronized  him,  offering  him  the  columns  of  his  paper,  where  he 
wrote  memorable  articles  on  art  and  literature. 

His  labor  as  a  correspondent  for  South  and  Central  American 
newspapers  is  a  complete  review  of  all  the  contemporaneous  events 
in  the  United  States.  These  articles,  when  collected  into  a  book, 
will  form  one  of  the  most  profound,  entertaining  and  just  studies  oi 
this  country.  But  Marti,  in  the  midst  of  this  work  with  which  he 
earned  his  bread,  had  time  to  write  the  tenderest  thoughts  in  poetry  to 
his  child,  to  publish,  in  some  lines  which  he  entitled  "  Simple  Verses/* 
the  decisive  moments  of  his  life,  and  in  his  oratory  and  prose  of  fire, 
brilliant  with  images  and  filigree  composition,  he  put  all  that  colos 
sal  mind  of  his,  with  its  new  and  high  ideas,  and  his  soul  as  grand,  as 
brave  as  his  imagination  was  vivid  and  rich. 

The  Spanish-American  Republics  vied  with  each  other  to  do  him 
honor  and  to  offer  him  a  permanent  home,  but  he  lived  not  for  posi 
tion  or  wealth,  but  for  his  country ;  and  this  man,  who  had  been  poor 
all  his  life,  when  he  was  rewarded  by  Argentina  and  Uruguay  with 


520  THE  FOUNDERS  OF  CUBAN   LIBERTY. 

their  consulates,  which  allowed  him  to  live  more  comfortably,  to 
give  more  time  to  the  colored  Cubans  whom  he  used  to  teach  in  a 
small  room  in  an  out-of-the-way  street  of  New  York  City,  and  to  be 
still  more  charitable  and  kind  to  those  who  would  never  go  away 
from  his  door  unaided,  when  Marti  was  the  official  representative 
of  those  Republics,  and  it  was  necessary  to  either  give  up  his  welfare 
or  his  convictions  as  a  Cuban,  then  this  great  man  preferred  to  re 
main  with  his  only  means  of  livelihood,  which  was  a  class  in  a  night- 
school,  than  to  cease  being  a  patriot. 

Revolution  in  the  Air. 

His  pure,  his  sincere,  his  noble  life  was  indeed  devoted  to  Cuba. 
For  her  he  had  suffered  imprisonment  and  banishment ;  now  he  was 
to  commence  the  final  labor  of  bringing  together  the  Cubans  within 
the  Island  and  abroad,  organized  in  such  a  manner  that  when  the 
hour  arrived  for  the  uprising  the  soldiers  of  freedom  would  not  want 
the  arms  with  which  to  make  effective  their  enthusiasm. .  Marti  had 
an  exquisite  nervous  temperament,  and  had  at  the  same  time  that 
rarer  quality  of  being  able  to  bridle  his  impulses,  and  the  even  more 
difficult  gift  of  knowing  how  long  to  wait  and  when  to  strike.  In 
three  years  he  put  in  tangible  shape  what  he  had  been  preparing  for 
so  many.  And  it  was  time,  because  the  people  of  Cuba  had  now 
reached  the  point  which  Marti  had  foretold,  when  the  Home  Rule 
Party  could  no  longer  restrain  the  natural  indignation  of  a  long- 
deceived  country  ;  when  the  veterans  of  the  last  revolution  were  pre 
paring  their  arms ;  when  the  youth  of  this  generation — vigorous  and 
determined — were  already  exercising  themselves  for  the  battle  of  the 
future  ;  when  there  floated  over  the  Island  the  soul  of  that  protest, 
which  was  now  again  to  drench  with  blood  the  most  unfortunate,  the 
most  martyrized  of  American  lands. 

Marti  was  ready.  While  others  hoped  and  waited  with  their  arms 
crossed,  the  visionary,  the  lunatic,  as  he  was  called  by  some  of  his 
skeptical  countrymen,  had  done  the  work  for  all.  He  had  estab 
lished  the  Cuban  Revolutionary  Party  upon  whose  bases  and  by 
laws  he  had  united  all  the  Cuban  Revolutionary  elements  ;  he  had 


THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY.  521 

collected  slowly  but  surely  the  money  with  which  to  make  the  first 
stand. 

At  his  words,  as  of  an  apostle,  the  heroes  of  the  last  decade  had 
answered  that  when  the  moment  came  their  places  would  not  be  va 
cant  ;  the  loved  leaders  who  more  than  once  had  led  them  to  victory, 
did  not  shrink  from  this  new  proof  of  their  loyalty  to  the  cause ;  the 
gray-haired  General-in-Chief  felt  that  he  could  still  mount  with  dash 
his  war  charger ;  his  brave  lieutenants,  the  bronzed  giants  of  the 
East ;  the  old  companions  of  hardships,  of  victory  and  of  hope, — all 
responded. 

Marti  may  not  have  made  the  Revolution,  but  he  was  the  one  who, 
thoroughly  disinterested,  brought  together  in  a  sublime  embrace  those 
of  yesterday  and  to-day,  those  who  wield  the  sword  without  which  no 
nation  can  attain  its  independence,  and  those  who  will  make  the 
laws,  without  which  no  independence  can  be  maintained  nor  the 
Republic  founded. 

Still  Enthusiastic  for  Freedom, 

The  temporary  drawback  that  he  received  when  the  vessels  in 
which  he  was  to  take  the  arms  and  the  leaders  to  Cuba  were  cap 
tured,  could  not  discourage  his  stout  heart.  The  day  he  saw  all  his 
plans  fall  to  the  ground,  through  treachery  or  cowardice,  on  that 
day  when  he  was  so  great  in  his  suffering,  he  turned  to  the  only 
friends  in  whom  he  confided,  to  the  venerable  Tomas  Estrada  Palma, 
to  his  faithful  "  brother,"  Benjamin  J.  Guerra,  to  whom  this  revolu 
tion  owes  so  much,  to  Horatio  S.  Rubens,  the  distinguished  Ameri 
can  lawyer,  who  has  been  the  truest  ally  of  Cuba,  and  to  myself,  his 
"  son,"  and  only  asked,  full  of  emotion  :  "  Do  you  have  faith  in  me 
still  ?  Will  you  help  me  again  ?" 

When  I  asked  in  his  name  these  very  questions,  six  weeks  after 
wards,  to  the  thousands  of  our  countrymen  who  had  already  contri 
buted  so  liberally  to  the  party,  the  answer  was  unanimous  and  effec 
tive.  Marti,  who  had  left  for  Santo  Domingo,  with  Generals  Collazo 
and  Jose  M.  Rodriguez,  to  see  General  Gomez  and  inform  him  of  the 
condition  of  affairs,  found  on  his  arrival  there  that  the  Cubans  loved 


522  THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY. 

him  more  than  ever;  that  they  had  absolute  confidence  in  his  words  ; 
that  they  would  continue  to  support  him ;  that  they  gave  him  the 
funds  with  which  to  go  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  to  the  Island. 

The  Island,  surprised  as  well  as  Spain,  at  the  magnitude  of  the 
plans  of  Marti,  ripe  and  impatient,  was  clamoring  for  the  word. 
When  the  letters  of  Marti,  which  I  took  to  Key  West,  and  from  there 
were  sent  by  a  trusted  messenger  across,  were  received  in  Cuba, 
Generals  Gomez  and  Marti  were  getting  ready  for  their  departure.  In 
those  last  days  when  Marti  was  with  me,  in  January  of  1895,  I  saw 
him  in  another  light,  so  different  from  the  others  before,  and  the  man 
grew  in  grandeur ;  indeed,  it  could  be  said  of  him,  that  to  know  him 
was  to  appreciate  him,  to  know  him  well  was  to  love  him  forever. 

And  it  could  not  be  his  enthusiasm  of  a  believer,  nor  his  dreams  as 
patriot,  nor  his  eloquence,  nor  his  constant  and  unobtrusive  teaching 
tvhich  drew  those  who  were  around  him  more  closely  to  his  heart. 
No ;  those  were  times  of  doubt,  of  discouragement  and  of  defeat,  and 
yet  who  could  fail  to  admire  that  man  who  would  not  leave  his  friends 
alone  in  trouble,  in  Florida,  but  would  rush  to  share  with  them  their 
sadness  ? 

His  Love  for  Cuba. 

Who  does  not  admire  this  man  when  you  see  him  ?  Who  would 
not  feel  his  heart  ache  when  at  night,  after  the  day's  worry  and  work, 
he  would  try  to  rest?  His  fertile  brain  was  no  more  under  the  con 
trol  of  his  strong  will,  and  he  gave  vent  to  those  rending  wails  in 
which  he  exclaimed,  "  The  traitor,  how  he  struck  the  bosom  of  Cuba!  " 
Only  then,  in  that  kind  of  somnolence,  did  I  ever  here  him  complain. 

The  last  two  weeks  of  his  life  in  New  York  he  passed  at  my  house, 
unknown,  only  to  his  few  trusted  friends.  In  the  midst  of  the  blow 
no  one  caressed  my  little  child  with  such  softness  ;  no  cavalier  could 
be  more  polite  to  the  ladies ;  no  one  more  mindful  of  the  comforts  of 
others.  In  the  evening,  he,  whose  thoughts  were  only  in  Cuba  and 
was  fretting  under  the  delay,  would  read  to  them  in  his  melodious 
and  sonorous  voice  the  superb  lines  in  which  he  has  translated  Moore's 
"  Lalla  Rookh,"  and  then  he  would  prepare  the  chocolate ;  while  he 
waited  for  the  milk  to  boil  he  would  read  Franklin's  autobiography. 


THE  FOUNDERS  OF  CUBAN   LIBERTY.  523 

The  remembrance  of  his  last  farewell  on  board  of  the  steamer,  of 
his  kiss  of  good-bye,  open  now  the  fountains  of  my  heart.  Marti 
was  to  enter  in  the  last  phase  of  his  varied  and  splendid  career. 
Only  one  thing  could  be  said  of  him — he  had  not  proved  his  valor 
in  the  field ;  he  had  never  fought  with  rifle  or  sword. 

In  a  small  schooner,  on  the  first  of  April,  Marti,  General  Gomez, 
Generals  Angel  Guerra,  Paquito  Borrero,  Cesar  Salas  and  a  domini- 
can,  Marcos  Rosario,  left  from  a  desert  shore  on  the  frontier  of 
Hayti.  The  passages  were  filled  with  men  of  war  ;  the  Spanish  Con 
suls  were  advised  of  their  movements  ;  the  captain  was  a  scoundrel ; 
he  brought  them  to  Inagua,  where  the  crew  at  the  instigation  of  the 
mate  deserted  ;  it  was  impossible  to  obtain  any  seamen  ;  the  Cubans 
were  trapped  in  the  arid  Island  ;  they  could  not  possibly  reach  Cuba, 
and  Cuba  was  desperate,  expecting  their  promised  coming. 

Landed  by  Night. 

When  General  Gomez  was  writing,  "  I  have  lost  all  hope  !"  Marti 
had  made  arrangements  with  a  steamer  that  took  them  to  Hayti ; 
here  they  had  to  hide,  for  fear  of  arrest  by  the  authorities ;  another 
vessel  took  them  there.  On  the  night  of  the  nth  of  April,  the  six 
men,  in  a  row-boat,  were  placed  on  the  coast  of  Cuba.  They  rowed 
with  all  their  life  ;  the  lady  hands  of  Marti  directed  one  of  the  oars  ; 
in  a  short  time  they  landed  ;  Marti  had  kept  his  word ;  he  had  prac 
ticed  what  he  preached  ;  he  was  in  his  place ! 

His  letters  describing  the  landing ;  the  welcome  which  the 
Cuban  forces  in  that  section  gave  him;  his  appointment  as  Major 
General  of  the  army;  his  excursion  through  the  East;  his  judgment 
of  men  and  things ;  his  faithful  pictures  of  nature,  are  literary  gems. 
Wherever  he  went  he  was  received  with  admiration  and  love; 
in  his  excursions  through  the  East  he  met  with  enthusiastic  recep 
tions,  and  with  demonstrations  of  warm  affection.  Marti  spoke  to 
the  assembled  patriots ;  his  orations  were  now  short  harangues,  full 
of  that  irresistible  magnetism  that  swayed  the  masses ;  they  were 
like  the  sparks  of  the  clashing  of  the  machete  and  the  sabre ; 
they  were  delivered  from  the  saddle  of  battle  to  the  defenders  of 


524  THE    FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY. 

liberty ;    they  are  engraved  in  the  minds  of  those  legions  never  to 
be  forgotten. 

The  statesman  now  revealed  himself.  On  leaving  Santo  Domingo 
he  gave  to  Cuba  his  famous  declaration  of  principles  of  the  revolu 
tion,  dated  at  Monte  Christi,  on  the  25th  of  March ;  in  paragraphs 
in  which  every  phrase  is  packed  with  ideas,  in  a  massive  language, 
he  proclaimed  the  ability  of  the  Cubans  to  carry  on  the  war,  their 
capacity  for  creating  a  stable  government  the  day  after  the  victory, 
the  antagonism  between  the  mother  country  and  the  colony,  due  to 
their  peculiar  relations,  the  belief  and  proof  that  in  Cuba  there  could 
neither  be  «*  military  despotism  nor  a  war  of  races,  the  assurance  that 
the  Spaniard  would  find  in  the  Cuban  not  an  enemy,  but  a  friend,  and 
the  determination  of  the  patriots  to  renew  the  war,  with  its  conse 
quent  sufferings  and  miseries,  not  for  a  mere  dream  or  poetic  aspira 
tion  of  independence,  but  because  the  dignity  and  salvation  of  the 
country  demanded  it,  and  because  the  Cubans  were  convinced,  after 
years  of  patient  and  useless  waiting,  that  only  by  fire  and  sword 
could  the  happiness  and  freedom  of  the  Island  be  obtained. 

Concealed  in  a  Hut. 

In  the  month  and  a  half  that  he  breathed  the  invigorating  air  of 
our  republic,  Marti  spent  most  of  his  time,  while  not  on  the  inarch, 
in  the  humble  hut  of  the  peasant,  writing  on  a  board  of  palm  those 
decrees  calling  the  resident  Spaniards  to  help  make  the  nationality  of 
their  children,  promising  that  the  property  of  friends  and  neutrals 
would  be  protected  ;  and  above  all  the  one  prescribing  that  any  one 
presenting  himself  to  any  Cuban  chief  with  any  proposition  of  peace, 
other  than  that  based  on  absolute  independence,  should  be  sum 
marily  tried  as  a  traitor.  His  last  public  utterances,  embodied  in  a 
lengthy  and  lucid  document,  appealing  to  the  justice  of  republicans 
and  of  America,  was  published  in  the  United  States  on  the  iQth  of 
May,  the  very  day  when  the  prime  founder  of  Cuba  was  sealing  his 
words  with  his  blood,  when  Jose  Marti  was  dying  like  a  soldier! 

"  Under  the  palms,  on  a  white  steed,  with  my  face  to  the  sun,"  as 
he  wished  it,  he  fell.  There,  where  our  only  majestic  river,  the 


THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY.  525 

Cauto,  opens  its  arms,  where  from  the  rising  ground,  the  valleys,  like 
a  motherly  bosom,  invite  the  eternal  rest,  canopied  by  a  gray  firma 
ment,  there,  where  the  world  seems  to  dilate,  Jose  Marti  battled  for 
the  last  time  against  Spanish  tyranny. 

The  Cuban  troops  had  just  heard  his  words  of  faith;  the  moun 
tains  still  echoed  with  the  applause ;  now  he  was  to  march  West  to 
fan  the  embers  into  a  conflagration  in  the  Central  provinces,  to 
establish  the  Civil  Government.  But  the  enemy  has  been  advised  by 
a  spy  of  the  presence  of  the  Cubans ;  the  camp  appears  surrounded ; 
the  Commander-in-Chief  mounts  hurriedly  and  goes  to  the  front ;  he 
is  followed  by  his  gallant  lieutenants.  Gomez  tells  Marti  to  wait  for 
his  return.  Jose  Marti  is  not  the  man  to  remain  quiet  while  others 
fight  and  are  in  danger.  "  A  Major-General  in  the  Cuban  Army  can 
not  stay  behind." 

A  Martyr  to  Freedom. 

While  Gomez  is  attacking  one  of  the  flanks  of  the  Spaniards  which 
is  completely  broken,  General  Jose  Marti  advances  with  a  few  fol 
lowers  by  another  road  ;  he  charges  ;  his  spirited  horse  carries  him 
ahead  of  his  men  ;  it  is  his  first  engagement,  it  is  his  last  victory  ;  he 
rolls  from  his  horse,  fallen,  wounded ;  his  breast  is  riddled  with 
bullets  ;  the  murderous  lead  entering  under  his  chin  has  disfigured 
the  firm  mouth ;  the  heavy  mustache  is  burnt ;  his  golden  tongue  is 
forever  silent ! 

Let  us  hope  that  it  is  false  that  he  was  picked  up  by  his  enemies, 
unconscious,  but  still  with  life,  and  that  they  cruelly  ended  his 
existence.  Let  us  hope  that  it  is  false,  for  the  honor  of  those  officers 
who  barefacedly  appropriated  his  ring  and  his  time-piece  and  who 
did  not  respect  even  the  papers  which  he  had  next  to  his  bleeding 
heart ! 

To  expose  the  deformed  mass  of  human  flesh,  in  order  to  terrorize 
his  countrymen  and  to  hypocritically  speak  before  his  corpse  is  not 
chivalry.  Real  chivalry  cannot  exist  in  men  who  desecrate  and 
plunder  the  body  of  the  generous  opponent ! 

The  cemetery  of  the  City  of  Santiago,  in  the  Eastern  end  of  Cuba, 


526  THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY. 

is  the  depository  of  the  mortal  remains  of  Jose  Marti,  born  in 
Havana,  in  the  Western  end  of  Cuba  ;  but  over  all  the  Island  there 
palpitates  with  the  same  patriotism  and  fervor  to-day  as  a  year  ago, 
as  it  will  while  a  single  Cuban  lives,  the  spiritual  Jose  Marti,  who 
guides,  from  above,  our  armies  to  victory ;  who  consoles  the  suffer 
ing,  the  exiled,  the  orphan,  the  widow  ;  who  watches  with  unceasing 
vigilance  for  the  welfare  of  his  children  ;  who  welcomes  his  brothers- 
in-arms  who  have  joined  him  in  the  heaven  of  immortality  I  Jose 
Marti,  oh  father  !  you  live  in  us,  you  can  only  die  when,  consumed  by 
the  flames  or  submerged  in  the  waves,  Cuba  shall  be  no  more  ! 

General  Maximo  Gomez. 

Who  is  this  wiry  man,  tall,  sun-burnt  by  twenty  years  of  fighting, 
with  gray  hair,  mustache  and  imperial ;  who,  alone  in  his  tent,  leans 
his  well-formed  head  on  his  hands,  resting  on  the  handle  of  his  erect 
sword  ?  Who  is  this  warrior  who  has  given  orders  that  no  one  shall 
enter  his  pavilion  while  he  laments  the  loss  of  his  friend  ?  It  is  the 
dominican,  it  is  the  Cuban  General-in-Chief,  Maximo  Gomez.  More 
distressed  by  the  loss  of  Marti  than  by  his  wounds,  he  prefers  to 
grieve  alone  for  his  noble  companion.  Suddenly  he  rises;  he  gives 
orders  to  his  aids,  he  is  on  the  march  again  to  the  West ;  the  way  to 
do  honor  to  the  memory  of  the  illustrious  Cuban  is  to  continue  and 
finish  the  work. 

Gomez  rides  silently  for  many  days ;  his  officers  do  not  speak  to 
him ;  they  know  that  he  is  thinking  of  the  blow  which  will  prevent 
Spain  from  taking  moral  advantage  of  the  death  of  Marti.  With  his 
eyes  of  an  eagle  he  chooses  the  direction  ;  with  the  cunningness  of 
the  fox  he  covers  his  tracks ;  when  the  Spaniards  are  announcing  his 
death  and  the  end  of  the  revolution,  the  veteran  General  sends  his 
horse  across  the  river  Jobabo ;  he  is  in  Puerto  Principe ;  he  has 
caught  Martinez  Campos  napping ;  two  days  afterwards  he  embraces 
again  the  grand  old  man  of  Cuba,  Salvador  Cismeros  Betancourt,  the 
ex-Marquis  of  Santa  Lucia ;  the  veterans  flock  to  his  standard  ;  it  is 
here  that  his  renowned  exploits  of  Las  Guasimas,  Naranjo,  La  Sacra 
and  Palo  Seco  took  place  ;  it  is  here  that  he  will  mature  his  plans. 


THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY.  527 

When  his  old  companions  of  sixteen  years  ago  surround  him  in 
the  starred  evenings  to  hear  him  speak  in  his  charming  manner,  he 
becomes  reminiscent;  he  tells  them  how,  when  he  sheathed  the 
sword,  he  went  away  without  a  dollar  to  Panama  with  his  Cuban 
>vife  and  his  Cuban  children  ;  "  one  of  them  will  soon  be  fighting  by 
my  side,"  he  exclaimed  with  pride;  how  he  struggled  with  the  fevers, 
how  he  wandered  striving  hard  to  make  ends  meet  in  Central 
America,  Jamaica  and  Santo  Domingo. 

But  he  does  not  say  that  he  has  abandoned  his  plantation,  that  he 
has  left  his  family  to  the  care  of  his  sons ;  he  does  not  tell  how  his 
wife  prefers  to  live  poorly  from  their  work  rather  than  accept  from 
the  grateful  Cubans  any  money  which  "  can  be  employed  in  buying 
war  material ;  "  he  never  relates  the  abnegation  of  that  model  home 
and  when  he  is  through  his  peregrinations  hebrusquely  says  :  "and  I 
am  here  again."  "  When  I  gave  up  in  1868  my  uniform  and  rank  as 
Major  of  the  Spanish  Army,  it  was  because  I  knew  that  if  I  kept 
them  I  would  have  some  clay  to  meet  my  own  children  in  the  field 
and  combat  against  their  just  desire  for  liberty.  Now,  with  my  many 
years,  I  have  come  to  lead  and  counsel  the  new  generation  to 
ultimate  victory." 

Iron  Hand  and  Velvet  Glove. 

It  is  that  confidence  in  the  cause  he  defends  which  has  made  the 
rigid  disciplinarian  the  idol  of  his  soldiers ;  it  is  that  generosity  with 
which  he  has  served  Cuba  which  had  conquered  for  him  their  eternal 
gratitude.  He  who  has  refused  to  preside  over  the  destinies  of  his 
native  land  because  that  of  his  adoption  is  not  free,  is  well  worthy  of 
being  considered,  as  every  native  of  the  Island  considers  him,  as  the 
very  best  of  Cubans. 

General  Gomez's  reputation  does  not  merely  rest  as  a  fortunate 
guerrilla  chief;  he  is  a  tactician  capable  of  planning  an  intricate  cam 
paign  and  of  organizing  large  bodies  of  troops  which  he  can  manage 
with  consummate  ability.  But  General  Gomez  believes  in  attaining 
the  end  with  the  means  at  his  disposal,  and  he  is  to  be  praised  for 
that  patience  with  which  he  has  waited,  and  waits,  until  his  raw 


528  THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY. 

troops  are  organized,  and  until  he  has  equipped  them  with  arms  cap 
tured  hrom  the  enemy. 

He  is  fond  of  sudden  surprises  which  yield  him  excellent  results. 
In  a  circular  operation  which  he  made  in  Puerto  Principe  he  collected 
enough  weapons  for  his  Camagueyan  cavalry ;  yet  these  brilliant 
coups  which  make  him  dangerous  are  apparently  followed  by  periods 
of  inaction;  for  almost  three  months  during  the  summer  of  1895,  he 
seems  to  have  retired  from  active  work,  but  when  he  had  finished  his 
calculations,  he  mounted  his  horse,  and,  together  with  General 
Antonio  Maceo,  paraded  through  Puerto  Principe,  Santa  Clara  and 
Matanzas  and  encamped  within  sight  of  the  Morro  Castle  light 
house  ! 

Right,  and  Then  Goes  Ahead. 

So  well  measured  and  disposed  were  his  steps,  that  one  hundred 
thousand  Spanish  soldiers  were  impotent  to  detain  him.  He  seldom 
promises  to  do  anything  or  prophesy,  but  when  he  does  one  or  the 
other  he  keeps  his  word  ;  he  does  not  brag  nor  exaggerate  like  his 
opponents,  but  once  he  makes  up  his  mind  that  a  certain  course  is 
right  he  pursues  it  to  the  end. 

Spain  must  be  deprived  of  resources  to  carry  on  the  war ;  the  only 
way  to  do  it  is  by  preventing  the  sugar  crops  from  being  harvested ; 
the  Government  relies  on  his  military  arm  for  the  enforcement  of  the 
order,  and  General  Gomez,  who  is  the  first  to  obey  and  swear  alle 
giance  to  the  civil  authorities,  refuses  every  and  all  advances,  sternly 
follows  the  instructions,  whether  it  be  foe  or  friend  who  complains, 
and  proves  with  his  army  that  the  Cuban  Republic  is  the  supreme 
law  of  the  land  because  it  has  power  to  see  that  its  decrees  are' com 
plied  with  !  And  yet  not  one  prisoner  has  been  killed  by  the  army 
under  him  !  not  even  when  his  men  are  butchered ! 

The  affectionate  interest  that  he  takes  in  his  soldiers  is  proverbial; 
he  eats  what  they  eat ;  and  he  sleeps  where  they  sleep.  Of  his  mar 
velous  energy  and  tireless  physique,  these  thousand  of  miles  which 
he  has  traversed  on  horseback,  fighting  wherever  the  enemy  would 
dare  to  stand,  are  abundant  proof  that  all  the  stories  of  his  failing 
health  are  as  false  as  the  calumny  that  he  is  a  condotierri,  like  the 


THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY.  529 

paid  Generals  of  Spain,  who  come  to  the  Island  to  make  hay  while 
the  sun  shines,  and  who  return  to  Spain,  as  more  than  fifty  have 
already  done,  as  soon  as  by  a  mere  scratch,  or  a  run,  or  a  massacre 
of  defenseless  country  people,  they  are  promoted  or  obtain  a  pen 
sioned  cross. 

The  horses  that  are  killed  under  the  firm  stirrup  of  the  veteran 
warrior,  and  the  wounds  which  he  receives,  charging  always  at  the 
head  of  his  dashing  staff,  only  have  as  rewards  the  blessings  of  a 
people,  which  when  emancipated  will  call  him  the  Liberator  of  Cuba ! 

General  Antonio  Maceo. 

He  is  a  lion;  and  he  is  unconquerable.  And  he  is  the  favorite  child 
of  fortune.  He  is  a  mulatto  and  commenced  life  as  a  donkey-driver, 
By  his  courage,  coolness,  military  subordination  and  talents  he  rose 
from  the  ranks  to  a  Major- General  in  the  last  war.  His  worth  must 
indeed  be  indisputable,  when  against  all  possible  drawbacks  he  rose 
to  s-uch  high  command ;  the  favorite  disciple  of  Gomez,  he  is  the 
Lieutenant-General  of  the  Cuban  Army.  The  Spanish  use  his  name 
to  prove  that  this  is  a  war  headed  by  negroes  and  of  race  tendencies. 

It  is  well  that  they  should  thus  revenge  themselves  from  their 
feared  foe ;  it  is  easier  than  to  face  him  like  the  brave  Spanish  Gen 
eral  Santoscildes,  and  to  be  killed ;  it  is  far  better  to  remain  like 
Weyler  in  the  comfortable  palace,  protected  by  thousands  of  soldiers 
and  Krupp  guns,  than  to  be  carried  away  on  a  litter,  disguised,  as 
"  our  glorious  "  Martinez  Campos  was  at  Bayamo,  to  save  himself 
from  being  captured,  or  to  retreat  in  a  panic  at  the  second  trial  in 
Caliseo ;  it  is  safer  than  to  be  wounded  as  General  Cornell  was  in  the 
breast,  or  have  the  leg  bored  as  General  Luque,  or  be  in  peril  of 
drowning  as  Col.  Devos  was  by  being  whipped  into  the  sea !  That 
is  the  "  mulatto,"  as  they  contemptuously  refer  to  him,  their  terror 
and  constant  nightmare. 

Antonio  Maceo  is  not  only  a  lucky  fighter — he  is  a  tenacious  ad 
versary  who  can  never  be  bought.  I  said  he  was  a  lion,  and  I  recall 
him  now  in  the  arena  of  Cuba,  in  his  Eastern  mountains  as  the  Coli 
seum,  for  eleven  months  after  the  treaty  of  peace  holding  out  with  a 
34 


530  THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY. 

thousand  faithful  against  thirty  thousand  soldiers,  against  all  Spain, 
And  I  said  he  was  unconquerable,  for  the  lion  did  not  surrender ;  he 
made  no  terms  with  the  master ;  the  master  was  satisfied  to  let  him 
go  in  peace. 

With  Gomez  he  attempted  to  initiate  another  movement  in  1884; 
the  time  was  not  ripe  when  Marti  went  to  see  him  at  Costa  Rica, 
where  he  was  trying  to  develop  a  great  colony ;  he  found  him  willing 
and  anxious.  With  his  fearless  brother  Jose  and  the  lamented  Flor 
Crombet,  he  landed  in  April,  1895,  in  Baracoa.  Hosts  went  to 
receive  him;  he  was  again  in  the  arena ;  but  now  the  spectators  were 
his  allies,  and  the  old  master,  Martinez  Campos,  was  the  one  who  went, 
not  with  honors  as  did  Maceo,  but  disgraced,  discouraged,  defeated ! 

In  these  years  of  exile,  General  Antonio  Maceo  has  traveled  ex 
tensively,  has  mastered  several  languages,  has  studied  the  military 
theories,  which  he  has  already  applied ;  has  attained  an  enviable  de 
gree  of  culture  and  writes  in  a  most  concise  and  elegant  style.  He 
is  a  self-made  man;  a  self-made  great  man.  His  herculean  figure  has 
been  the  centre  of  attraction  of  this  revolution ;  around  him  the  best 
families  of  Cuba  fight ;  he  has  been  the  scourge  of  the  Spaniard,  the 
support  of  the  revolution,  and  the  patriot  army  honors  him. 

Generals  Calixto  Garcia,  Serafin  Sanchez,  Francisco  Car- 
rillo  and  Jose  Maria  Rodriguez. 

Cuba  has  many  other  distinguished  leaders,  who,  if  the  misfortunes 
of  war  should  deprive  her  of  the  great  commanders,  would  take  their 
places  and  go  on  with  the  campaign  where  it  was  left  by  them. 
Garcia,  Sanchez,  Carrillo  and  Rodriguez  are  veterans  of  the  last  revo- 
tion  and  are  identified  with  the  present  plans.  Their  names  are  a 
guarantee  of  their  devotion  and  a  convincing  proof  that  the  families 
of  position  and  respect  are  as  much  interested  in  the  success  of  the 
war  as  the  masses  of  the  people. 

GENERAL  CALIXTO  GARCIA,  for  seven  years,  to  1875,  was  the  Chief 
of  the  Eastern  Department ;  under  him,  the  Maceos  and  the  expert 
General  Rabi,  learned  the  art  of  war. 

He  was  fond  of  large  engagements  and  of  attacking  the  important 


THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY.  531 

towns.  At  a  critical  period  of  the  revolution,  by  a  series  of  rapid  and 
succsssful  operations  around  Holguin,  Jiguani  and  Manzanillo,  where 
he  is  the  idol,  he  did  a  great  deal  to  restore  the  morale  to  the  forces. 
Surprised  and  surrounded  by  a  Spanish  column,  with  only  his  escort, 
the  victor  of  Los  Melones  fought  desperately  until  he  saw  that  he 
could  not  escape ;  then  he  placed  the  muzzle  of  his  revolver  under  his 
chin  and  discharged  the  last  chamber — the  bullet  came  out  between 
the  eyebrows. 

For  many  months  he  hung  between  life  and  death,  but  finally 
recovered.  He  was  sent  to  Spain  as  a  prisoner  of  war;  in  1879,  after 
the  peace,  he  came  to  New  York  City,  from  where  he  took  a  small 
expedition  to  Cuba  in  the  hope  of  renewing  the  struggle.  He  arrived 
too  late ;  without  any  response  he  gave  up,  so  as  to  save  his  few  sur 
viving  companions.  Banished  again  to  Spain,  he  supported  his  family 
by  giving  lessons — his  refined  education  alone  saving  him  from 
hunger.  A  believer  in  Marti,  he  placed  himself  under  his  orders. 
Near  the  close  of  1895,  evading  the  Spanish  authorities,  he  escaped  to 
France,  and  from  there  came  to  this  country. 

He  Outlives  Shipwreck. 

Various  attempts  were  made  to  send  him  to  the  Cuban  army ;  that 
of  the  "  Hawkins,"  sunk  by  paid  hands  of  Spain,  which  declared  that 
General  Garcia  would  never  reach  the  Island.  In  the  terrible  ship 
wreck,  in  which  ten  lives  were  sacrificed  by  Spanish  criminality,  the 
figure  of  the  chief  stood  out  magnificently,  washed  by  the  furious 
waves ;  he  stood  on  the  bridge,  tall,  massive,  with  his  fair  face  in  its 
frame  of  silvery  hair  and  beard,  and  in  tones  which  were  heard  above 
the  rumbling  of  the  sea  and  the  whistling  wind,  he  said  :  "  My  boys, 
it  is  the  same  to  perish  here  as  there,  it  is  for  Cuba !  " 

But  he  was  not  to  perish ;  after  another  attempt,  in  which  he  was 
arrested,  he  arrived  in  Cuba  on  the  25th  of  March,  with  his  eldest 
son  by  his  side. 

GENERAL  SERAFIN  SANCHEZ  is  from  Sancti  Spiritus;  of  portly 
appearance,  of  serene  valor,  an  organizer,  and  a  man  of  intelligence 
and  education ;  he  is  at  the  same  time  a  man  on  whom  the  new 


532  THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY. 

republic  can  count  for  its  definite  order  and  progress.  His  life  in 
its  activities  is  an  example  of  what  all  these  soldiers  will  do  when 
Cuba  is  free.  Like  some  of  the  others,  he  became  a  planter  first,  and 
afterwards  was  employed  in  the  cigar  factories  of  Key  West ;  he  did 
not  dishonor  himself  by  that ;  he  preferred  to  earn  his  living  rather 
than  to  receive  it  from  his  compatriots.  In  the  prime  of  his  life;  from 
him,  as  well  as  from  Carrillo  and  Rodriguez,  much  is  to  be  expected 
in  this  war. 

Skillful  Commanders. 

CARRILLO  AND  RODRIGUEZ. — By  an  association  of  ideas  easily  ex 
plained,  it  is  difficult  to  speak  of  one  without  thinking  of  the  other ; 
yet  the  first  was  born  in  Remedies,  and  the  other  in  Santiago.  Be 
sides  being  contemporaneous,  their  only  resemblance,  physically,  is 
that  they  are  both  short  of  stature  and  wear  a  beard  like  Stonewall 
Jackson,  in  common  with  whom  they  have  many  traits.  Carrillo  is 
stout,  with  a  round  head,  prematurely  bald,  a  high  forehead,  soft  blue 
eyes,  a  perfect  nose,  a  small  mouth,  a  pronounced  blonde  beard  and  a 
magnificent  manly  face. 

Mayia,  as  his  friends  call  Rodriguez,  has  a  long  head,  thick  black 
hair  and  beard,  tinned  with  white  here  and  there :  the  narrow  fore- 

"  o 

head  broadens  ;  the  gray  eyes  sparkle  ;  the  nose  is  of  a  decided  tem 
per ;  his  body  is  thin,  almost  emaciated ;  he  walks  painfully,  his  knee 
cap  was  shattered  by  a  bullet  at  the  charge  in  which  he  covered  him 
self  with  laurels  at  Naranjo ;  he  has  never  since  recovered  the  full  use 
of  his  leg;  and  he  fought  four  years  in  that  condition,  and  when 
Gomez  remonstrated  that  he  could  not  bring  with  him  an  invalid,  the 
subordinate  hardly  controlled  himself,  but  said,  sadly:  "  General,  if 
you  do  not  take  me,  I  will  die ;  if  you  do  not  give  me  the  means,  I 
will  go  across  in  a  boat."  The  General  sent  him  as  his  personal 
representative  when  the  preparations  were  being  made;  after  the 
failure  he  returned  to  Santo  Domingo,  and  landed  finally  in  Cuba! 

Carrillo  and  Rodriguez  are  the  best  cavalry  leaders  of  Cuba ;  they 
are  aggressive,  honest,  of  the  best  military  schools  of  Cuba  ;  they  are 
adored  by  the  rank  and  file.  It  is  such  men  on  whom  the  new 
generation  counts  for  the  final  triumph ;  while  they  live,  others  will 


THE   FOUNDERS    OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY.  533 

try  to  imitate  them,  and  as  General  Gomez,  speaking  of  the  death  of 
Marti  and  Borrero,  said  truthfully :  "  Do  not  despair,  many  will  have 
to  fall ;  I  and  perhaps  some  of  my  lieutenants  will  not  reach  the  end 
of  the  journey,  but  there  will  be  plenty  who  will  take  our  places  and 
reach  the  goal  of  our  ambition  !  " 

Salvador  Cisneros  Betancourt. 

The  "grand  old  man"  of  Cuba!  There  is  no  bluer  blood  in  Spain 
than  his ;  his  estates,  ruined  now  by  confiscation  and  destruction, 
were  once  of  the  most  extensive  of  the  Island ;  a  Cisneros  and  a 
Quesada  ceded  to  the  Government  the  land  on  which  is  situated  the 
port  of  Santa  Cruz  in  Puerto  Principe.  But  the  ex-Marquis  of  Santa 
Lucia  is  nobler  by  his  deeds  than  by  his  title  and  escutcheons.  Of 
the  seventy  years  he  has  lived,  fifty  have  been  devoted  to  the  cause  of 
liberty  in  his  country.  He  came  to  Philadelphia  when  a  boy  and 
graduated  as  a  Civil  Engineer,  the  first  in  his  class ;  few  equal  him  in 
mathematics. 

In  the  United  States  he  learned  to  love — as  all  of  us — the  institu 
tions  which  give  every  one  his  due  and  foster  the  advancement  of  the 
people's  interest.  His  mind,  not  brilliant,  but  a  persistent,  quiet  and 
deep  one,  has  been  as  steadfast  in  its  convictions  as  his  heart, 
generous  to  the  point  of  prodigality.  El  Lugareno,  his  relative, 
Gaspar  Betancourt  Cisneros,  who  sowed  the  seeds  in  Puerto  Principe, 
found  in  the  young  man  an  ardent  devotee. 

Returning  to  his  native  city,  he  was  the  promoter  of  all  that  could 
advance  the  material,  intellectual  or  political  prosperity  of  his  coun 
trymen  ;  he  founded  radical  newspapers,  contributing  sharp  articles 
against  the  abuses  of  the  authorities ;  of  the  Lyceums  he  was  a 
powerful  factor;  of  the  fairs,  where  the  improvement  of  the  cattle 
industries  and  agricultural  products  was  encouraged,  he  was  one  of 
the  founders ;  he  was  a  benefactor. 

In  every  separatist  movement  he  can  be  found  until  the  present ; 
his  motto  seems  to  be,  If  you  fail,  try  again.  On  account  of  the 
attempts  in  1848,  he  was  banished ;  when  he  came  back  he  conspired 
year  after  year,  until,  in  1867,  the  work  commenced  to  be  shaped: 


534  THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY. 

again  he  wielded  the  pen.  He  created  the  Revolutionary  Committee 
of  Camaguey,  of  which  he  was  the  moving  spirit.  He  traveled  from 
place  to  place  bringing  together  the  conspirators,  and  when  on  the 
4th  of  November,  1868,  Camaguey  answered  the  call,  the  Marquis 
led  the  seventy-two  young  men  who  first  defied  the  Government. 

He  is  not  a  soldier,  and  yet  as  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  as  Presi 
dent  of  the  Republic,  he  has  gone  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight ;  col 
lecting  the  arms  left  by  the  enemy,  or  picking  up  and  caring  for  the 
wounded ;  it  is  unknown  that  he  has  ever  shot  a  cartridge ;  he  has 
the  highest  valor;  without  firing  he  receives  with  imperturbable  cool 
ness  the  enemy's  fusillade  ;  he  was  wounded  in  the  arm  in  the  attack 
of  Pinto. 

A  Wise  Statesman. 

But  if  he  is  not  a  military  chief,  he  is  one  of  the  corner-stones  of 
the  Republic ;  for  he  jealously  provides  that  the  civil  power  shall 
have  its  place  in  the  embryo  constitution  of  Cuba.  In  the  last  revo 
lution,  as  in  this,  he  insisted  on  having  the  law  paramount  to  the 
sword ;  he  is  conducting  the  Ship  of  State  so  that  in  the  future  there 
can  never  be  dictators  in  the  Island  or  military  oligarchies,  but  a  real 
democracy  and  a  republic  in  fact,  and  not  in  name  only. 

He  is  inflexible.  After  the  peace  he  came  to  this  country  ;  his 
life  was  a  hard  fight  against  misery ;  stooped  already  by  hardships 
and  age,  he  could  be  seen  in  summer  with  his  winter  coat  from 
which  he  had  removed  the  lining;  he  would  exist  on  one  meal  a  day, 
and  not  very  nutritious  at  that,  but  he  was  too  proud  to  accept 
charity,  not  because  of  himself,  but  because  of  his  Cuba! 

In  those  days  of  despair,  when  only  a  few  would  meet  in  a  lowly 
hall  to  honor  the  memories  of  the  heroes,  he  used  to  take  me,  a  child 
then, — he  who  had  lost  all  his  children — and  would  place  me  by  his 
side  on  the  wooden  benches,  and  his  bony  hands  would  pat  me 
kindly  on  the  shoulders,  and  he  would  say  in  his  peculiar  voice : 
"  Hear,  do  not  allow  the  happiness  of  the  American  people  and  their 
liberty  which  you  enjoy,  make  you  forget  that  you  do  not  deserve 
them  until  you  have  acquired  them  by  your  own  effort ;  hear  well 
and  be  a  Cuban." 


THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY.  535 

When  he  went  back  to  Puerto  Principe,  after  the  last  hopes  of  a  new 
uprising  had  failed  in  1885,  the  Marquis  (that  is  the  way  we  affection 
ately  called  him  in  the  army)  gave  up  his  magnificent  house,  now 
the  Spanish  Casino;  divided  into  colonies  his  estates  in  Las  Minas 
for  the  use  of  the  veterans,  would  not  enter  any  political  party,  and 
when  a  negro  captain  died,  a  Cuban  soldier  noted  for  his  devotion 
and  gallantry,  and  it  was  fitting  that  he  should  have  a  tomb  worthy 
of  his  merits,  it  was  the  carriage  of  Cisneros  that  was  at  the  head  of 
the  funeral ;  he  helped  to  place  the  casket  of  the  humble  negro  by  the 
side  of  those  of  his  titled  ancestors,  in  the  niche  of  the  Marquises  of 
Santa  Lucia! 

When,  in  1893,  he  was  written  to,  he  answered  that  they  could 
always  count  upon  Camaguey,  but  that  there  were  no  arms.  This 
was  the  reason  why  this  province  did  not  respond  until  June,  and 
then  it  was  with  machetes  only,  and  very  few  cartridges.  The  vener 
able  Marquis  was  the  first  to  unfurl  again  the  flag  in  Puerto  Principe. 

The  Government  Well  Organized. 

Devoting  all  his  energies  to  the  formation  of  the  Civil  Government, 
postponed  on  account  of  the  death  of  Jose  Marti,  delegates  from  all 
the  provinces  met  at  Jimaguayu  under  his  chairmanship,  and  drew 
the  provisional  constitution ;  while  at  the  same  time,  leaving  the 
military  all  liberty  of  action,  it  subordinates  it  to  the  civil  delegates 
of  the  people,  who  elect  all  the  officers  of  the  Republic  for  two  years. 

An  indefatigable  organizer,  he  has  extended  the  civil  machinery  all 
over  the  portions  of  the  Island  in  control  of  the  Cubans  ;  by  a  system 
of  prefectures  regulated  by  wise  rules,  the  army  always  finds  horses 
and  food  on  its  marches ;  those  who  do  not  bear  arms  are  employed 
in  farming  and  manufacturing ;  a  complete  system  of  post-offices  is 
in  operation  throughout  the  Island;  taxes  are  collected  ;  civil  mar 
riage  determines  the  relations  of  the  sexes ;  the  citizen  is  taught  to 
respect  the  civil  functionaries,  and  to  see  them  respected  by  the 
military  chiefs,  and  while  the  sword  and  the  torch  destroy  and  purify 
the  existing  germs  of  corruption  and  colonial  despotism,  the  country 
is  being  prepared  for  a  natural  evolution  into  the  life  of  a  modern  and 


536  THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY. 

orderly  nation,  without  the  necessity  of  passing  through  periods  of 
struggle  and  doubt,  of  disquiet,  or  temporary  anarchy. 

It  is  well  to  do  away  with  the  rotten  elements,  but  it  is  the  work 
of  the  statesman  to  put  in  their  place  the  solid  and  healthy  founda 
tions  for  the  future.  Such  is  the  ambition  and  endeavor  of  the  Presi 
dent  of  the  Provisional  Government  of  Cuba,  Salvador  Cisneros 
Betancourt. 

Tomas  Estrada  Palma. 

The  Cuban  Revolution  is  not  only  fought  in  Cuba;  it  is  fought  all 
over  the  world,  and  especially  in  the  United  States.  The  Spanish 
domination  in  America  would  cease  the  day  when  Madrid  would  be 
cut  off  from  Havana ;  on  the  supply  of  arms  and  ammunition  which 
reaches  the  patriots,  depends  the  rapid  termination  of  the  unequal 
war.  The  representative  of  the  Cuban  Republic  abroad  is  the  col 
laborator  of  most  importance  perhaps. 

Spain  must  be  met  wherever  she  has  her  agents ;  her  lies  and 
detractions,  propagated  in  press  and  book  to  dishonor  the  Cuban 
cause,  must  be  answered ;  her  detectives  must  be  fooled,  and  war 
material,  a  legitimate  merchandise,  must  be  sent  to  Cuba,  to  the 
thousands  of  men  who  are  clamoring  for  it ;  to  those  patriots  who 
shed  tears  when  they  see  that  one  ship  has  not  brought  enough  for 
all.  The  duel  between  Spain  and  Cuba  is  also  an  economic  war; 
wherever  and  whenever  Spain  has  to  spend  her  last  millions,  there 
the  battle  is  being  waged.  Every  day  that  passes  is  a  victory  won 
by  the  Cubans,  for  it  represents  so  many  hundred  thousands  of 
dollars  to  the  Royal  Treasury,  which  Spain  must  borrow. 

Her  children,  she  does  not  mind  if  they  are  killed;  she  can  replace 
them  from  the  poor  peasantry  of  her  deserted  and  impoverished 
fields;  but  a  dollar — a  dollar  is  one  more  piled  to  her  enormous 
debt ;  with  every  one  spent  it  is  harder  to  get  the  loan  of  another. 
So  every  spy,  every  cable,  every  secret  service  abroad,  is  an  uncon 
scious  contributor  to  the  bankruptcy  of  Spain,  and  Cuba's  independ 
ence.  This  is  a  duel  in  which  the  Spaniards,  to  win,  must  spend 
money,  and  the  Cubans  use  their  brains. 

No  better  man  could  have  been  chosen  by  the  Cubans  abroad  to 


THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY.  537 

succeed  Jose  Marti,  than  the  tried  patriot,  Tomas  Estrada  Palma. 
This  selection  was  so  ratified  by  the  unanimous  appointment  he 
received  from  the  Constituent  Assembly,  as  Delegate  Plenipotentiary 
of  the  Cuban  Republic  in  foreign  countries ;  that  is  to  say,  the  Gov 
ernment  gave  him  the  amplest  powers.  Only  on  a  man  of  the  history 
of  Palma  could  such  a  confidence  be  conferred;  but  the  Cubans  who 
knew  well  his  past  history,  and  the  Americans  who  have  learned  to 
love  him  in  Central  Valley,  New  York,  are  proud  and  satisfied  that 
the  selection  should  have  fallen  on  him. 

Palma  unites  with  the  fervor  of  the  first  apostles  of  Cuban  liberty 
— of  whom  he  was  one — the  mature  deliberation  of  the  man  who  by 
experience  knows  why  the  last  revolution  did  not  succeed ;  and  his 
labor  has  been  directed  to  see  that  no  division  may  arise  between  the 
Cubans  who  are  fighting  in  the  field  and  the  Cubans  abroad,  who 
should  be  an  auxiliary  wing  of  the  army  of  liberation ;  and  he  has 
with  consummate  skill  softened  the  natural  antagonisms  among  men, 
overcome  difficulties  and  brought  together  all  the  Cubans  to  a  com 
mon  labor.  While  there  existst  his  union,  equal  to  the  one  in  the 
ranks,  the  Cuban  cause  is  invincible.  While  Tomas  Estrada  Palma 
remains  in  his  present  position,  his  name  is  the  guarantee  of  such 

union. 

A  Self-sacrificing  Patriot. 

The  disinterestedness  with  which  he  serves  his  country  in  this 
epoch  is  more  to  be  admired  than  when  he  abandoned,  young  then, 
his  vast  estate ;  when  he  made  his  house  the  meeting-place  for  the 
conspirators ;  when  he,  the  only  son  and  heir,  gave  up  all  for  his 
Cuba.  And  he  did  not  only  suffer  in  those  years  when  the  fortitude 
of  constitutions,  not  as  frail  as  his,  was  vanquished  by  the  miseries  of 
war,  but  he  received  the  cruelest  of  wounds. 

Since  then  there  is  a  tinge  of  sadness  in  his  eyes.  His  mother 
was,  for  his  sake,  a  victim  of  Spanish  brutality ;  she  could  not  part 
from  the  only  consolation  of  her  life ;  she  followed  him  to  the  rebel 
woods  ;  sick  and  an  invalid  she  was  made  a  prisoner ;  her  captors 
dragged  the  unfortunate  woman  through  the  road  inhumanly ;  she 
died  of  their  ill-treatment ! 


538  THE    FOUNDERS    OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY. 

Tomas  Estrada  for  many  a  month  bowed  his  head  in  silent  despair; 
but  when  Spanish  soldiers  were  captured,  he  was  the  first  to  intercede 
in  their  behalf;  he  would  not  insult  his  mother's  saintly  memory,  her 
virtue,  her  martyrdom,  by  revenge.  They  say  that  to-day  the  vener 
able  patrician  keeps  next  to  his  heart  a  little  wallet,  with  relics  of  his 
mother's  love,  his  treasures ;  when  he  needs  encouragement,  he  thinks 
of  her ;  he  reverently  kisses  the  time-worn  trinkets  ;  he  sheds  tears 
and  is  comforted  and  strengthened. 

Independence  First,  then  Peace. 

With  the  same  constancy  Palma  loves  his  Cuba ;  had  he  not  been 
captured,  perhaps  the  Spaniards  never  would  have  had  a  chance  to 
present  propositions  of  peace ;  it  was  this  little  man,  who,  previous  to 
his  Presidency,  when  Secretary  of  State,  drew  the  "  Sportuno  decree," 
.e -enacted  by  Marti  and  Gomez,  incorporated  in  another  form  in  Arti 
cle  X.  of  the  present  Constitution  :  "  No  peace  but  on  the  basis  of 
independence."  Inflexible  in  its  compliance,  a  relative  of  his  was 
the  first  to  suffer  its  consequences,  for  bringing  other  propositions ; 
he  was  tried  and  executed ;  with  Palma  there  are  no  relatives  or 
influences  that  can  make  him  waver ;  his  conscience  is  his  only 
counsellor. 

Sent  to  Spain,  he  was  confined  in  a  castle  until  the  end  of  the  war. 
Palma  refused  all  aid  that  the  Government  offered  him ;  when  the 
census  was  being  taken  he  was  asked  his  occupation.  "  President  of 
the  Republic  of  Cuba,"  he  answered  proudly ;  thrice,  and  each  time 
to  a  higher  officer,  the  prisoner  answered,  "  President  of  the  Republic 
of  Cuba/'  They  could  not  persuade  him  to  change  his  reply,  either 
by  coaxing  or  threats  !  While  the  Prime  Minister  at  Madrid  was 
expecting  him  to  confer  as  to  the  best  way  of  dealing  with  separatism 
in  the  Island,  and  to  offer  him  a  fine  position  in  the  Cuban  adminis 
tration,  Tomas  Estrada  Palma  was  crossing  the  frontier  to  France  in 
a  third-class  coach,  with  hardly  enough  money  to  reach  Paris. 

In  Honduras,  where  he  found  the  affectionate  companion  of  his 
home,  he  was  made  Postmaster-General  of  the  Republic,  and  com 
menced  his  pedagogic  career,  to  which  he  was,  by  hii  kindness  and 


THE   FOUNDERS    OF    CUBAN    LIBERTY.  539 

patience,  more  inclined  than  to  the  tricks  and  aggressiveness  of  the 
profession  of  the  law. 

By  dint  of  economy  and  perseverance  he  realized  finally  his  dream: 
the  establishment  of  a  school  for  Spanish  Americans  and  Cuban 
children  in  the  United  States,  where  they  would  be  educated  in  the 
midst  of  liberty,  and  see  how  the  people  govern  themselves;  would 
be  taught  letters,  as  well  as  the  love  for  agricultural  work,  and  where 
they  would  not  lose  their  home  customs  or  their  veneration  for  the 
fatherland. 

To  contemplate  him  there  in  the  picturesque  valley,  with  the 
mountains  surrounding  it,  in  his  spacious  and  neat  home,  with  his 
pupils,  to  whom  he  is  an  elder  brother,  rising  with  the  sun,  overseeing 
the  tasks  of  his  employees,  alert,  benevolent,  advising  with  paternal 
solicitude,  teaching  with  amiability  and  clearness,  nursing  his  wards 
and  caring  for  them  with  as  much  interest  as  for  his  own  dear  ones, 
is  to  believe  in  the  existence  in  this  world  of  virtue  and  perfection. 

No  Glory  but  that  of  Sacrifice. 

And  from  this  model  home,  from  his  school,  from  his  family  that 
he  adores,  from  his  orchards,  from  his  cows,  from  his  lake,  from  tran 
quillity  and  happiness,  his  countrymen  called  him  to  enter  the  turmoil 
of  revolutionary  agitation,  to  become  the  bull's  eye  of  the  enemy,  to 
worry,  to  incessant  work  night  and  day,  to  the  grave  responsibilities 
of  a  position  fraught  with  unavoidable  difficulties  and  with  no  glory 
but  that  of  sacrifice.  Estrada  Palma  accepted  it,  and  he  did  it  con 
scious  of  the  obstacles  in  the  way,  of  the  hard  road  which  he  had  to 
travel.  But  could  it  be  worse  than  the  one  which  led  his  friend  Marti 
to  martyrdom  and  the  one  of  his  sweet,  magnanimous  mother  ? 

For  the  first  days  he  groped  his  way  as  if  studying  the  situation; 
the  office  full  of  envious  people  was  not  the  quiet  school-room  with 
the  smiles  of  his  scholars;  the  buzz  of  the  city,  the  nervous  life,  the 
unrest,  the  agitation  took  him  by  surprise ;  but  his  wonderful  adapt 
ability  vanquished  everything;  soon  he  had  mastered  the  details  of 
the  vast  and  complicated  labor ;  he  was  again  not  the  schoolmaster, 
but  the  same  executive  officer  of  twenty  years  ago ! 


540  THE   FOUNDERS    OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY. 

An  able  judge  of  men,  his  initial  steps  were  to  carefully  choose  his 
coadjutors.  In  Benjamin  Guerra,  he  found  a  treasurer  of  that  integ 
rity  which  is  Palma's  essential  requisite ;  struggling  people  are  always 
poor,  but  they  have  sufficient  if  their  savings  are  defended  ;  and  not- 
one  cent  of  Cuba's  money  is  spent  but  in  forwarding  its  cause. 
Guerra's  face  has  much  of  the  determination  of  the  mastiff,  and  he 
watches  the  money  of  the  patriots  with  such  tact  and  fidelity  that  he 
has  been  repeatedly  elected  unanimously  to  his  high  position  of  trust. 
Benjamin  J.  Guerra  is  besides  a  man  of  cool  and  wise  counsel,  whose 
opinions  carry  weight,  not  only  by  his  patriotic  history,  but  by  the 
moderation  and  conservatism  of  his  tendencies. 

All  in  the  Service  of  Liberty. 

Mr.  Palma  has  also  had  the  happy  faculty  of  not  removing  those 
who  have  done  good  service  or  shown  themselves  fitted  for  their 
positions.  Horatio  S.  Rubens  had  been  the  legal  adviser  of  Marti, 
who  implicitly  confided  in  the  young  lawyer  ;  Palma  kept,  him  by  his 
side.  In  this  revolution  the  Americans  have  not  as  yet  occupied  in 
the  Cuban  Army  the  commands  which  Jordan,  Reeves,  Johnston  and 
Humphries  did  in  the  last;  but  this  American,  Rubens,  has  done  so 
much  for  the  success  of  the  independence  of  the  Island,  that  his 
name,  cherished  by  Generals,  cheered  by  the  soldiers,  dear  to  the 
Cubans  abroad,  will  occupy  one  of  the  most  brilliant  pages  in  the 
history  of  Cuba.  He  has  given  up  his  future  for  liberty ;  he  has 
placed  his  legal  talent  at  the  service  of  the  patriots. 

Emileo  Nunez,  who  has  well  earned  his  title  of  General,  by  his 
successful  landing  of  arms  in  Cuba ;  Joaquin  Castillo,  who  has  helped 
him  ;  Dr.  Juan  Guiteras,  a  scientific  glory  of  America  and  a  proved 
patriot,  have  all  contributed  to  Palma's  success.  Palma  has  accom 
plished  more  than  his  predecessors  in  1868-78;  he  has  landed  more 
cargoes  of  war  material ;  he  has  floated  a  loan,  aided  by  Ponce  dc 
Leon,  Zaldo,  Zayas,  active  and  distinguished  Cubans ;  and  he  has 
obtained  from  the  American  people,  through  both  Houses  of  Con 
gress,  the  declaration  of  sympathy,  its  opinion  that  the  Cubans  are 


THE   FOUNDERS   OF   CUBAN   LIBERTY.  541 

entitled  to  belligerency,  and  that  the  United  States  desire  the  inde 
pendence  of  the  Island. 

What  more  could  be  expected  in  a  year  ?  And  Tomas  Estrada 
Palma  has  done  this  in  his  quiet,  unassuming  way,  without  flattering 
anybody,  without  the  dignity  of  his  country  suffering.  The  follow 
ing  address  will  give  an  idea  of  the  stand  Palma  has  taken  in  this 
revolution : 

"  To  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  : 

"  The  persistency  with  which  the  American  press  has,  during  the 
last  few  days,  been  treating  of  supposed  administrative  reforms  to  be 
introduced  in  Cuba  by  the  Government  of  Spain  compels  me  to 
request  the  publication  of  the  following  declarations  which  I  make  in 
behalf  of  my  Government,  of  the  army  of  liberation  of  Cuba,  and  of 
the  Cuban  Revolutionary  Party. 

Not  Reforms  but  Independence. 

"  The  question  of  the  proposed  reforms  is  not  a  matter  which  at 
all  concerns  those  who  have  already  established  an  independent  gov 
ernment  in  Cuba  and  have  resolved  to  shrink  from  no  sacrifice  of 
property  or  life  in  order  to  emancipate  the  whole  Island  from  the 
Spanish  yoke.  If  the  Spanish  residents  of  the  Island,  who  are 
favored  by  the  Spanish  Government  with  all  sorts  of  privileges  and 
monopolies,  and  if  the  handful  of  Cubans,  too  pusillanimous  or  too 
proud  to  acknowledge  their  error,  or  a  few  foreigners  guided  only  by 
selfish  interests,  are  satisfied  that  Cuba  should  remain  under  Spanish 
domination,  we,  who  fight  under  the  flag  of  the  solitary  star,  we,  who 
already  constitute  the  Republic  of  Cuba,  and  belong  to  a  free  people 
with  its  own  Government  and  its  own  laws,  are  firmly  resolved  to 
listen  to  »io  compromise  and  to  treat  with  Spain  on  the  basis  of 
absolute  independence  for  Cuba. 

"  If  Spain  has  power  to  exterminate  us,  then  let  her  convert  the 
Island  into  a  vast  cemetery ;  if  she  has  not,  and  wishes  to  terminate 
the  war  before  the  whole  country  is  reduced  to  ashes,  then  let  her 
adopt  the  only  measure  that  will  put  an  end  to  it  and  recognize  our 


542  THE   FOUNDERS    OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY. 

independence.  Spain  must  know  by  this  time  that  while  there  is  a 
single  living  Cuban  with  dignity — and  there  are  many  thousands 
of  them — there  will  not  be  peace  in  Cuba,  nor  even  the  hope  of  it. 

"All  good  causes  must  finally  triumph,  and  ours  is  a  good  cause. 
It  is  the  cause  of  justice  treated  with  contempt,  of  right  suppressed 
by  force,  and  of  the  dignity  of  a  people  offended  to  the  last  degree. 

"  We  Cubans  have  a  thousandfold  more  reason  in  our  endeavors  to 
free  ourselves  from  the  Spanish  yoke  than  the  people  of  the  thirteen 
colonies  had  when,  in  1776,  they  rose  in  arms  against  the  British 
Government. 

The  American  Revolution  and  the  Cuban. 

"  The  people  of  these  colonies  were  in  full  enjoyment  of  all  the 
rights  of  man ;  they  had  liberty  of  conscience,  freedom  of  speech, 
liberty  of  the  press,  the  right  of  public  meeting,  and  the  right  of  free 
locomotion ;  they  elected  those  who  governed  them,  they  made  their 
own  laws,  and,  in  fact,  enjoyed  the  blessings  of  self-government 
They  were  not  under  the  sway  of  a  Captain-General  with  arbitrary 
powers,  who,  at  his  will,  could  imprison  them,  deport  them  to  penal 
colonies,  or  order  their  execution,  even  without  the  semblance  of  a 
court-martial.  They  did  not  have  to  pay  a  permanent  army  and 
navy  that  they  might  be  kept  in  subjection,  nor  to  feed  a  swarm  of 
hungry  employees  yearly  sent  over  from  the  metropolis,  to  prey  upon 
the  country. 

"  They  were  never  subjected  to  a  stupid  and  crushing  customs 
tariff  which  compelled  them  to  go  to  the  home  markets  for  millions 
of  merchandise  annually  which  they  could  buy  much  cheaper  else 
where  ;  they  were  never  compelled  to  cover  a  budget  of  $26,000,000 
or  $30,000,000  a  year  without  the  consent  of  the  taxpayers,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  army  and  navy  of  the 
oppressor,  to  pay  the  salaries  of  thousands  of  worthless  European 
employees,  the  whole  interest  on  a  debt  not  incurred  by  the  colony, 
and  other  expenditures  from  which  the  Island  received  no  benefit 
whatever;  for  out  of  all  those  millions  only  the  paltry  sum  of 
$700,000  was  apparently  applied  for  works  of  internal  improvement, 


THE   FOUNDERS    OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY.  545 

and  one-half  of  which  invariably  went  into  the  pockets  of  the  Spanish 
employees. 

"  We  have  thrown  ourselves  into  the  struggle  advisedly  and 
deliberately ;  we  knew  what  we  would  have  to  face,  and  we  decided 
unflinchingly  to  persevere  until  we  should  emancipate  ourselves  from 
the  Spanish  Government.  And  we  know  that  we  are  able  to  do  it, 
as  we  know  that  we  are  competent  to  govern  ourselves. 

Capable  of  Managing  Organizations. 

"  Among  other  proofs  which  could  be  adduced  of  the  capacity  of 
the  Cuban  white  and  colored  to  rule  themselves  is  the  strong  organi 
zation  of  the  Cuban  revolutionary  party  in  America.  It  is  composed 
of  more  than  20,000  Cubans  living  in  different  countries  of  the  New 
World,  and  formed  into  clubs,  the  members  of  which  yearly  elect 
their  leader.  This  organization  has  an  existence  of  over  five  years, 
during  which  every  member  has  strictly  discharged  his  duties,  has 
respected,  without  any  interruption,  the  regulations,  and  obeyed  the 
elected  delegate  loyally  and  faithfully.  Among  the  members  of  the 
clubs  there  are  several  Spaniards,  who  enjoy  the  same  rights  as  the 
Cubans,  and  who  live  with  them  in  fraternal  harmony. 

"  This  fact,  and  those  of  the  many  Spaniards  incorporated  into  our 
army,  fully  demonstrate  that  our  revolution  is  not  the  result  of 
personal  hatred,  but  an  uprising  inspired  only  by  the  natural  love 
of  liberty  and  free  institutions.  The  war  in  Cuba  has  for  its  only 
object  the  overthrow  of  Spanish  power,  and  to  establish  an  inde 
pendent  republic,  under  whose  beneficent  laws  the  Spaniards  may 
continue  to  live  side  by  side  with  the  Cubans  as  members  of  the  same 
community  and  citizens  of  the  same  nation.  This  is  our  programme, 
and  we  strictly  adhere  to  it. 

"  The  revolution  is  powerful  and  deeply  rooted  in  the  hearts  of  the 
Cuban  people,  and  there  is  no  Spanish  power — no  power  in  the  world 
• — that  can  stop  its  march.  The  war,  since  General  Weyler  took 
command  of  the  Spanish  army,  has  assumed  a  cruel  character;  his 
troops  shoot  the  Cuban  prisoners,  pursue  and  kill  the  sick  and 
wounded,  assassinate  the  unarmed,  and  burn  their  houses.  The 


544  THE    FOUNDERS    OF   CUBAN    LIBERTY. 

Cuban  troops,  on  their  part,  destroy,  as  a  war  measure,  the  machinery 
and  buildings  of  the  sugar  plantations,  and  are  firmly  resolved  not  to 
leave  one  stone  upon  another  during  their  campaign. 

"  Let  those  who  can  put  an  end  to  this  war  reflect  that  our  liberty 
is  being  gained  with  the  blood  of  thousands  of  Cuban  victims,  among 
whom  is  numbered  Jose  Marti,  the  apostle  and  martyr  of  our  revo 
lution.  Let  them  consider  that,  before  the  sacred  memory  of  this 
new  redeemer,  there  is  not  a  single  Cuban  who  will  withdraw  from 
the  work  of  emancipation  without  feeling  ashamed  of  abandoning 
the  flag  which,  on  the  24th  of  February,  was  raised  by  the  beloved 
master. 

"It  is  time  for  the  Cuban  people  to  satisfy  their  just  desire  for  a 
place  among  the  free  nations  of  the  world,  and  let  them  not  be  accused 
if,  to  accomplish  their  noble  purpose,  they  are  obliged  to  reduce  to 
ashes  the  Cuban  land.  T.  ESTRADA  PALM  A." 

Like  Franklin,  Palma  puts  his  faith  in  the  justice  of  his  cause  rather 
than  in  the  pomp  of  language,  or  on  the  show  of  dress.  He  always 
dresses  in  black ;  he  uses  neither  the  silk  hat  nor  the  evening  dress  ; 
he  wears  no  jewels;  his  fourteen-year  old  boy  is  by  his  side,  that  he 
may  accompany  him  ;  he  always  finds  time,  as  did  Lord  Nelson  in 
the  midst  of  the  perils  of  the  sea  and  vicissitudes  of  combat,  to  write 
to  his  lady ;  every  night  he  kisses  the  sacred  wallet ! 

Noble  and  pure  soul !     Of  such  are  the  founders  of  Cuba's  liberty. 

GONZALO    DE    QUESADA. 


Appendix. 

Latest  Events  in  the  Cuban  Revolution,  including 
Military  Operations,  Battles,  Secret  Expedi 
tions  and  Arrests  of  American  Citizens. 

rTHHE  next  event  of  importance  following  the  history  of  the  Cuban 
A  conflict  narrated  in  the  first  part  of  this  volume,  was  the  arrest 
at  Havana  of  Rev.  Alberto  J.  Diaz,  a  Baptist  missionary  and  a  citizen 
of  the  United  States.  Subsequently,  at  a  public  meeting  in  Philadel 
phia,  Mr.  Diaz  told  a  dramatic  story  of  escape  from  military  death  in 
Cuba,  of  the  cunning  and  brutality  of  the  Spanish  General  Weyler 
and  his  fear  of  the  United  States. 

Dr.  Diaz  and  his  brother  were  imprisoned  in  Cuba  for  preaching 
civil  and  religious  liberty,  and  were  only  saved  from  death  by  the 
services  of  a  member  of  his  church  disguised  as  a  Spanish  sentry.  In 
Havana  the  members  of  the  church,  founded  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Southern  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  were  divided  in  sympathy 
between  the  Spanish  and  insurgents.  Dr.  Diaz  preached  true  liberty 
to  both  factions  alike,  and  although  often  warned  against  it  he  per 
sisted  in  expounding  the  doctrines  of  liberty  and  claimed  the  right 
of  uttering  his  honest  sentiments. 

Said  he,  "  About  three  o'clock  one  morning  I  was  aroused  by  a 
knock  at  the  door  of  my  house,  and  when  I  opened  it  I  saw  some 
fifty  or  sixty  Spanish  soldiers,  with  their  guns  leveled  at  me.  I  quickly 
shut  the  door  and  talked  through  it.  The  captain  said  he  must  search 
the  house,  and  I  consented  to  let  three  men  come  in.  They  spent 
seven  hours  looking  through  two  trunks  full  of  sermons  and  other 
papers,  and  when  the  search  was  completed  they  had  found  no  incrimi 
nating  documents." 

35  545 


546  LATEST   EVENTS   IN    CUBA. 

Not  notified,  the  soldiers  led  Dr.  Diaz  and  his  brother  away  to  the 
prison  cell  in  the  now  famous  Morro  Castle.  They  were  placed  face 
to  a  wall  with  sentinels  all  about  them.  For  twenty-four  hours  they 
sat  there  without  eating,  for  they  were  afraid  to  eat  lest  their  food  had 
been  poisoned,  as  it  had  often  been  before.  Finding  that  they  did 
not  eat,  the  soldiers  allowed  the  doctor's  wife  to  send  in  their  meals. 

One  day  Dr.  Diaz  saw  two  black  coffins  and  saw  all  arrangements 
for  his  execution  and  supposed  that  day  was  his  last  on  earth.  Feel 
ing  that  death  was  so  near  he  laid  aside  prison  rules  and  talked  with 
his  brother,  and  the  two  men  sang  hymns  until  they  lay  down  for 
what  they  believed  would  be  their  last  sleep. 

A  Secret  Telegram. 

"  But,"  says  Dr.  Diaz,  "  I  was  not  quite  asleep  when  I  was  startled 
by  some  one  kissing  my  hand.  I  started  up,  but  a  finger  was  laid  on 
my  lips  as  a  signal  for  quiet.  A  soldier  was  by  my  side  sobbing  bit 
terly.  At  last  he  whispered,  '  Don't  you  know  me  ?  I  belong  to 
your  church.'  "  Bending  low  the  Doctor  recognized  the  soldier,  who 
then  said  :  "  You  are  to  die  to-morrow,  is  there  anything  I  can  do  ?  " 
Dr.  Diaz  asked  for  pencil  and  paper  and  wrote  a  telegram,  "  Diaz  in 
jail ;  about  to  be  executed,"  and  directed  it  to  the  President  of  the 
Southern  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  in  Atlanta.  The  sentry  promised 
to  smuggle  the  telegram  through,  and  he  succeeded.  Just  what  repiy 
was  received  Dr.  Diaz  did  not  say,  but  following  the  receipt  of  the 
message  the  prisoners  were  allowed  everything  but  their  liberty. 

Dr.  Diaz  wrote  another  telegram  to  Secretary  of  State  Olney,  slat 
ing  the  conditions  of  his  imprisonment,  and  that  he  was  an  American 
citizen,  but  it  was  returned  and  reported  that  Weyler  had  said  :  "  If 
that  telegram  is  sent  it  will  involve  us  in  war  with  the  United  States/* 

Dr.  Diaz  told  the  messenger  the  message  must  be  smuggled  over 
to  Key  West.  Soldiers  were  everywhere,  and  the  messenger  retreated, 
but  later  gave  the  telegram  to  two  men  who  were  not  known,  and 
they  were  allowed  to  go  on  board  the  steamer.  The  messenger 
wanted  to  send  a  message  of  his  own  and  went  on  board  the  boat  atul 
was  searched,  but  nothing  found  on  him.  When  the  boat  was  out  >* 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA.  54V 

sight  he  told  the  Spaniards  that  the  message  was  on  the  steamer 
bound  for  Key  West. 

The  news  was  carried  to  General  Weyler,  who  immediately  antici 
pated  the  demand  and  telegraphed  to  Washington  :  "  Diaz  released." 
Forthwith  Dr.  Diaz  was  released  and  went  directly  to  his  church, 
where  a  monster  prayer-meeting  was  held.  The  next  day  General 
Weyler  ordered  Diaz,  his  brother  and  family  to  leave  Cuba  on  the 
next  steamer.  Dr.  Diaz  could  not  leave  and  went  fishing  until  the 
boat  left  and  then  had  to  wait  for  three  days.  By  this  time  all  ar 
rangements  were  completed  and  the  whole  family  left  for  the  United 
States.  The  story  created  great  interest  and  the  congregation  con 
gratulated  him  on  his  marvelous  escape  from  death. 

General  Lee  Sent  to  Cuba. 

In  April,  1896,  a  change  of  consuls  at  Havana  excited  comment. 
The  appointment  of  General  Fitzhugh  Lee  to  succeed  Consul  General 
Williams,  was  regarded  by  Americans  as  well  as  by  the  authorities  at 
the  Palace,  as  an  adroit  way  of  sending  a  military  commissioner  from 
the  States  to  Cuba.  When  there  was  an  intimation  that  Mr.  Cleve 
land  contemplated  sending  a  commissioner  to  learn  officially  what 
was  going  on,  the  officials  at  Madrid  said  very  plainly  that  no  military 
or  other  commission  would  be  accepted  by  them,  or  permitted  to  pry 
into  affairs  in  Cuba.  There  was,  therefore,  some  curiosity  as  to  how 
General  Lee  would  be  received,  and  as  to  what  facilities  would  be 
accorded  him  for  learning  what  was  transpiring  outside  of  the  city  of 
Havana.  The  American  residents  of  Havana  welcomed  General  Lee 
with  open  arms.  The  following  is  a  summing  up  of  the  situation  on 
May  ist,  by  a  press  correspondent: 

"  Three  conclusions  force  themselves  upon  me  as  the  result  of 
observation  of  the  progress  of  the  revolution  in  Cuba.  The  insurgents 
are  making  a  remarkably  good  fight.  Spain  has  demonstrated  her 
inability  to  put  them  down,  and  Cuba  is  surely  slipping  away  from 
Spain.  When  I  left  Havana  a  week  ago,  the  insurrection  was  more 
formidable,  and  apparently  more  promising  of  success,  than  at  any 
time  in  the  fourteen  months  since  the  Cubans  rose  against  Spain. 


548  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

"  Before  the  arrival  of  General  Weyler,  correspondents  were  per 
mitted  to  accompany  Spanish  columns.  Since  the  enemy  has  grown 
from  scattered  bands  to  organized  and  fairly-well  armed  and  drilled 
columns  it  is  a  matter  of  life  and  death  for  a  correspondent  to  penetrate 
the  rebel  lines.  I  have  had  experience  with  four  Captains-General — 
Calleja,  Campos,  Marin  and  Weyler.  The  last  is  the  only  one  of  them 
who  made  the  life  of  a  war  correspondent  burdensome.  Polite  in  his 
reception  of  all  Americans,  yet  he  had  a  way  of  impressing  upon  a 
correspondent,  without  putting  it  into  words,  that  it  would  conduce 
to  his  personal  safety  to  make  a  practice  of  reporting  nothing  but 
Spanish  official  news. 

"  As  these  fail  to  mention  a  single  insurgent  success  from  the  be 
ginning,  and  are  a  record  of  many  Spanish  victories,  which  exist  on 
paper  only,  the  correspondent  who  accepts  them  at  face  value  beguiles 
his  readers.  If  the  affair  at  Guatao  was  a  battle  and  not  a  butchery, 
why  were  two  correspondents  thrown  into  Morro  Castle,  charged  with 
having  visited  the  place,  which  is  only  twelve  miles  from  Havana? 
Every  effort  is  made  to  keep  the  world  in  darkness  as  to  what  is  being 
done  in  Cuba.  Every  cable  despatch  is  carefully  edited  before  it  can 
be  transmitted.  Everything  unfavorable  to  Spain  or  favorable  to  the 
Cuban  cause  is  eliminated.  The  mails  are  searched  to  prevent  news 
paper  correspondence  being  sent  off.  But  with  all  these  precautions 
the  truth  cannot  be  suppressed. 

Spain's  Immense  Army. 

"Spain  has  sent  140,000  regulars  and  60,000  volunteers  have  been 
raised  in  *Se  cities  of  the  Island.  The  latter  are  used  almost  entirely 
for  home  defence.  Of  the  regulars  approximately  25,000  have  suc 
cumbed  to  bullets  and  disease  during  the  year,  15,000  are  in  the  hos 
pitals  or  have  been  relieved  from  duty,  and  about  100,000  are  available 
for  active  operations. 

"The  establishment  of  the  latest  trocha,  that  between  Mariel  and 
Majana,  absorbs  30,000  regulars  for  the  defence  of  the  line.  There 
are  about  10,000  regulars  divided  into  flying  columns  of  1,500  to  2,000 
men  -each,  operating  aggressively  against  Maceo  just  west  of  the  trocha 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN    CUBA.  549 

in  Pinar  del  Rio,  and  in  all  of  the  other  provinces  there  are  not  more 
than  15,000  troops  in  the  field  against  the  enemy. 

"  Gomez,  Lacret,  Jose  Maceo,  Calixto  Garcia  and  other  insurgent 
leaders  with  large  forces  are  unopposed.  The  number  of  insurgents 
under  arms  is  now  fully  45,000.  Spaniards  say  that  Cubans  will  not 
fight,  but  I  have  seen  many  trainloads  of  wounded  Spanish  soldiers 
brought  into  Havana  and  other  cities,  and  American  planters  declare 
that  the  Cubans  are  reckless  under  fire. 

"  The  entire  interior  of  the  Island  is  either  in  actual  possession  of 
insurgents  or  is  in  sympathy  with  them.  In  the  large  cities  are  many 
men  who  are  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  the  insurgent  cause.  In 
the  early  days  of  the  war  the  better  class  of  Cubans  declared  the 
rising  to  be  premature.  Within  three  months  there  has  been  a  deci 
ded  change  of  opinion.  Sons  of  leading  families,  and  in  some  cases, 
heads  of  families  themselves,  have  joined  the  insurgents.  A  g-entle- 
man,  who  owns  a  sugar  plantation  worth  $2,000,000,  said  to  me  re 
cently  that  he  had  become  convinced  that  Cuba  must  be  free  or 
annexed  to  the  United  States,  or  every  planter  on  the  Island  would 
be  ruined. 

Cruelty  of  the  Spanish  Commanders. 

"  The  rabid  Spaniards  are  the  ones  who  forced  the  recall  of  General 
Martinez  Campos.  They  have  recently  attacked  General  Weyler, 
accusing  him  of  being  as  lenient  as  Campos.  The  General  has  been 
between  two  fires  ever  since  he  took  command.  He  has  endeavored 
to  satisfy  Spaniards  and  at  the  same  time  avoid  bringing  down  the 
wrath  of  the  United  States  on  his  head.  He  has  succeeded  in  both 
fairly  well." 

The  correspondent  then  gives  details  of  acts  of  cruelty  charged 
against  Spanish  commanders  which  have  been  reported  from  time  to 
time.  He  continues : 

"The  ultra-Spaniards  urge  General  Weyler  to  do  more  of  this  kind 
of  work.  They  declare  without  hesitancy  that  all  Cubans  should  be 
exterminated.  They  urge  Spanish  merchants  to  discharge  their 
Cuban  clerks  and  employ  Spaniards.  They  look  upon  Cuba  as  a 
place  to  be  plucked,  and  would  drive  every  native  from  the  Island  and 


550  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

confiscate  his  property  for  themselves.  These  Spaniards  are  the 
dominant  faction  at  present,  but  they  are  only  a  small  minority  in 
Cuba.  The  more  liberal  Spaniards  and  those  with  property  interests 
at  stake  have  different  views." 

The  reader  will  be  interested  in  a  detailed  account  of  the  capture 
of  the  filibustering  schooner  "  Competitor  "  by  a  Spanish  gunboat. 
Several  aboard  the  captured  vessel  claimed  American  citizenship,  and 
among  them  were  those  who  declared  they  were  on  lawful  business 
and  were  not  in  any  sense  aiding  the  insurgents. 

General  Weyler  was  much  pleased  at  the  capture.  He  embraced 
Commander  Butron,  of  the  gunboat  "  Mensagera,"  and  presented  him 
with  the  cross  Maria  Cristina.  Commander  Butron  said  the  papers 
seized  were  very  valuable.  Among  them  were  letters  to  Maceo,  cir 
culars,  many  flags  and  other  things  besides  the  arms.  The  expedi 
tion  started  three  times  from  Key  West.  Dr.  Vedia,  the  Key  West 
newspaper  correspondent,  was  on  board  in  all  the  attempts,  and  once 
was  kept  at  sea  twenty  days. 

Story  of  the  Capture. 

Commander  Butron's  story  of  the  capture  is  as  follows  :  "  The 
'Mensagera' was  directed  to  watch  the  coast  between  Cayo  Julia  and 
Morrillo,  about  one  hundred  miles.  It  was  heard  on  the  afternoon  of 
April  25,  that  a  suspicious  schooner  had  been  seen  near  Quebrados  de 
Uvas.  The  gunboat  followed  and  found  the  '  Competitor.'  The 
usual  signals  were  made,  but  the  schooner  tried  to  get  closer  in 
shore  so  as  to  land  a  rapid  fire-gun. 

"The 'Mensagera 'was  then  moved  forward  and  fired  a  shot,  which 
struck  the  schooner  and  exploded  a  box  of  cartridges  which  the 
men  were  trying  to  take  ashore.  Several  occupants  of  the  schooner 
became  alarmed,  and  threw  themselves  into  the  water,  fearing  an  ex 
plosion  of  dynamite.  The  gunboat's  crew  seized  rifles  and  began 
shooting,  killing  three  men.  Several  others  reached  shore. 

"  Three  men  were  aboard  the  schooner  when  it  was  overhauled, 
and  they  surrendered  without  resistance.  Among  them  was  Owen 
Milton,  editor  of  the  Key  West  Mosquito.  Sailors  were  sent  ashore 


LATEST   EVENTS    IN   CUBA.  551 

to  capture  the  arms  landed.  In  a  skirmish  two  men,  supposed  to  be 
filibusters,  and  a  horse  were  killed.  They  secured  several  abandoned 
cases  of  cartridges.  A  body  of  insurgents  had  come  to  watch  the 
landing  of  the  boat's  crew.  The  'Mensagera'  came  to  Havana  with 
the  arms  and  prisoners,  who  were  very  seasick.  The  schooner  was 
towed  to  Havana  by  the  gunboat  '  Vicente  Yanez.'  It  is  regarded  as 
an  object  of  great  curiosity  by  the  crowds.  It  had  the  Spanish  flag 
floating  when  captured.  It  is  a  neat,  strong  boat,  and  looks  fast. 
One  of  the  prisoners  captured  steadily  refuses  to  give  his  name/' 

Trial  of  the  Prisoners. 

A  despatch  from  Havana  under  date  of  May  8th,  was  as  follows : 

"  The  court  opened  at  the  Arsenal.  The  prisoners  were  Alfredo 
Laborde,  born  in  New  Orleans ;  Owen  Milton,  of  Kansas ;  William 
Kinlea,  an  Englishman,  and  Elias  Vedia  and  Teodoro  Dela  Maza, 
both  Cubans.  Captain  Ruiz  acted  as  president  of  the  court,  which 
consisted  of  nine  other  military  and  naval  officers.  The  trial  of  the 
five  filibusters  captured  aboard  the  '  Competitor  '  was  proceeded  with 
against  the  formal  protest  presented  by  Consul  General  Williams, 
who  declared  that  the  trial  was  illegal  and  in  violation  of  the  treaty 
between  Spain  and  the  United  States. 

"The  prisoners  were  not  served  with  a  copy  of  the  charges  against 
them  and  were  not  allowed  to  select  their  own  counsel,  but  were 
represented  by  a  naval  officer  appointed  by  the  government.  They 
were  not  permited  to  call  witnesses  for  their  defence,  the  prosecution 
calling  all  the  witnesses.  Owen  Milton,  of  Kansas,  testified  through 
an  interpreter  that  he  came  on  the  expedition  only  in  order  to  corres 
pond  for  a  newspaper.  William  Kinlea,  when  called,  was  in  his 
shirt  sleeves.  He  arose  and  said  in  English,  '  I  do  not  recognize 
your  authority  and  appeal  for  protection  to  the  American  and  English 
consuls.' " 

A  few  days  later  it  was  announced  from  Madrid  that  the  Spanish 
and  American  Governments  had  arrived  at  an  amicable  understanding 
regarding  the  trial  of  the  prisoners,  who  would  be  tried  again,  this 
time  by  a  civil  court  under  the  provisions  of  the  existing  treaties 


552  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

between  the  two  countries.  The  prompt  action  of  our  Government 
undoubtedly  saved  the  lives  of  several,  if  not  all,  of  the  prisoners. 
Early  in  May  the  Spaniards  succeeded  in  capturing  Cacarajicara, 
Maceo's  fort  in  the  western  mountains,  being  led  by  General  Inclan. 
The  insurgents  made  an  attack  upon  the  Spanish  artillerymen  with 
their  machetes,  but  were  driven  back  from  the  cannon  forty  feet  by  a 
wall  of  troops.  A  tall,  bearded  man,  stick  in  hand,  urged  the  insur 
gents  to  fall  on  the  Spaniards,  but  they  refused  and  retreated. 

Hand  to  Hand  Fighting. 

A  bayonet  charge  was  then  ordered  and  the  soldiers  patriotically 
rushed  into  the  ditch,  driving  out  the  insurgents.  One  of  those  who 
defended  the  fort  and  who  fled  with  the  others  was  a  woman.  The 
defence  is  said  to  have  been  conducted  by  Maceo,  Socarras  and 
Quintin  Bandera.  The  return  march  was  very  difficult,  the  enemy 
being  scattered  all  through  the  hills  and  firing  from  every  point. 
The  progress  was  slow  on  account  of  the  wounded  soldiers.  The 
official  report  says  2,000  Spanish  and  6,000  to  8,000  insurgents  were 
engaged  in  all.  Socarras  is  said  to  have  been  gravely  wounded  in 
the  face.  A  ball  struck  Pilar  Rojas  in  the  stomach,  seriously 
wounding  him.  General  Inclan  made  an  address,  thanking  his 
soldiers  for  their  valor,  which,  he  said,  "  deserves  a  place  in  the  best 
pages  of  Spanish  history." 

The  situation  in  Cuba  in  the  middle  of  July  is  fully  stated  by  a 
pjess  correspondent,  who  furnished,  among  other  accounts  of  impor 
tant  events,  the  details  of  the  death  of  General  Jose  Maceo,  brother  of 
the  famous  General  Antonio  Maceo,  and  himself  a  dashing  leader 
scarcely  less  renowned  than  his  illustrious  brother. 

"  I  went  out,"  says  the  correspondent,  "  with  General  Agustin 
Cebreco  on  June  20,  and  arrived  the  next  day  at  the  Aguacate  estate 
by  the  Cauto  River,  where  we  pitched  our  camp.  We  started  out  the 
next  day  and  marched  to  San  Luis,  where  we  met  General  Jose 
Maceo's  forces,  who  were  returning  from  conveying  the  war  material 
landed  from  the  steamer  '  Three  Friends ' 

"  I  met  Colonel  Rafael  Pqrtuondo,  who  was  the  leader  of  the  expe- 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA.  553 

dition.  It  was  the  largest  ever  brought  to  Cuba,  and  according  to 
Portuondo  himself  there  were  seventy  men.  The  expedition  left 
Jacksonville  on  the  23d  of  May,  and  consisted  of  the  following : — 
1,052  rifles,  24  cases  of  hardware,  200  suits  of  clothes,  200  ham 
mocks,  525,000  cartridges,  2  rapid-fire  guns,  800  shells,  1,000  dyna 
mite  shells,  1,000,000  dynamite  caps  and  one  ton  of  medical  stores, 
presented  to  the  Cubans  by  an  American  wholesale  drug  firm.  There 
was  enough  morphine  and  quinine  for  an  army.  There  were  also 
200  Mauser  rifles  of  French  make,  which  have  a  longer  range  than 
the  German  gun. 

"  The  '  Three  Friends  '  effected  a  landing  at  a  place  called  Bacunao, 
between  Santiago  de  Cuba  and  Guanbanamo  on  May  30,  at  dawn. 
It  took  two  and  a  half  hours  to  send  everything  ashore  ;  it  took 
three  hours  more  to  hide  it  in  a  place  of  safety.  Members  of  the 
expedition  then  started  out  in  search  of  the  Cuban  forces,  but  none 
were  found  in  the  neighborhood  until  six  days  later. 

"  Jose  Maceo  and  2,000  men  passed  near  the  place  and  were  noti 
fied  of  the  landing  Colonel  Portuondo  is  a  lawyer  of  Santiago  de 
Cuba,  who  rose  in  arms  last  February.  He  was  elected  later  Secre 
tary  of  Foreign  Relations  and  was  afterward  sent  by  the  government 
on  a  mission  to  Washington.  He  has  been  successful  in  all  his  un 
dertakings. 

Some  Incidents  of  the  March. 

"The  day  before  we  met  Jose  Maceo,. 250  of  his  men  met  102 
Spaniards  and  fought  them,  killing  twenty-five  of  their  number  and 
capturing  twenty-six  horses.  On  June  23, 1  went  with  1,800  men  of 
Maceo  and  Cebreco's  commands  to  forage  in  the  Spanish  cultivated 
zone  near  the  Santa  Anna  estate.  The  soldiers  in  the  fort  at  this 
place  fled  from  the  Cubans  when  they  approached.  Not  one  shot 
was  fired  at  us.  We  also  visited  a  coffee  plantation  owned  by  a 
Frenchman  named  Benjamin  Cagnet,  who  tried  to  be  friendly  toward 
us  and  render  us  some  assistance. 

"  We  encamped  that  night  in  the  town  of  Cauto  Abajo,  which  is 
now  in  ashes.  On  June  24th,  St.  John's  Day,  Jose  Maceo's  army 
had  marched  through  the  camp,  where  the  following  generals  ha<l 


554  LATEST   EVENTS   IN    CUBA. 

pitched  their  tents : — Agustin  Cebreco,  Periquito  Perez,  Serafin  San 
chez,  Matias  Vegas  and  Higinio  Vasquez.  We  started  for  Canasta 
the  next  day,  where  a  meeting  was  to  take  place  between  the  Cuban 
forces  from  the  Western  and  Eastern  departments.  The  place  is  on 
the  Cauto  River,  where  there  is  plenty  to  eat  and  drink  for  men  and 
horses. 

Successful  Assault  on  a  Gunboat. 

"  The  condition  of  the  roads  was  so  bad  on  going  to  the  meeting 
place  that  many  horses  were  left  stuck  in  the  mud  and  others  died 
from  exhaustion.  The  mules  are  more  suitable  for  the  Cuban  roads 
in  the  rainy  season.  Maceo  employed  three  hundred  mules  in  trans 
porting  Portuondo's  expedition.  June  26  we  reached  Canasta,  after 
five  hours'  march  from  San  Felipe,  where  we  encamped  last  night. 
Here  we  met  Major  General  Jesus  Rabi,  with  1,700  men,  cavalry  and 
infantry.  He  had  been  waiting  for  us  one  day.  The  following  day 
all  the  troops  were  formed  on  parade  and  the  arms  and  ammunition 
were  distributed  among  them. 

"  General  Rabi  told  me  some  interesting  details  about  the  capture 
of  the  gunboat  '  Belico '  by  General  Rios.  The  Spanish  gunboat  was 
steaming  up  the  Cauto  River,  carrying  provisions  and  ammunition  for 
the  garrison  in  Bayamo.  The  Cubans  in  large  numbers  assaulted 
the  gunboat  in  the  narrowest  part  of  the  river  and  wounded  the  com 
mander  in  the  breast.  He  surrendered,  and  the  crew  were  made 
prisoners.  The  captain  was  afterward  released,  and  is  now  nursing 
his  wound  in  Bayamo. 

"  Rabi  is  a  tall,  well-built  man,  in  complexion  like  an  Arab.  His 
beard,  like  his  hair,  jet  black.  He  is  reputed  as  a  brave  and  dashing 
officer.  He  is  liked  by  all  who  come  in  contact  with  him.  He  is  a 
veteran  of  the  Ten  Years'  War,  and  is  so  kind  in  nature  that  all  the 
Spaniards  who  desert  the  Spanish  ranks  seek  him.  He  has  more 
than  five  hundred  Spaniards  in  his  ranks.  He  rose  in  arms  in  Feb 
ruary  last  with  300  men  in  his  native  place,  Santa  Rita,  Santiago 
province. 

"  On  the  same  day  he  entered  Jiguani  and  captured  Baire,  where  his 
ranks  swelled  to  three  thousand  men.  At  Cacao  he  defeated  the 


LATEST   EVENTS    IN    CUBA.  555 

Spaniards  and  captured  2OO  rifles  and  1 1 5  prisoners.     The  Spaniards 
say  he  was  born  in  Spain. 

"  On  June  28,  800  men  from  the  eastern  army  were  sent  out  to 
join  the  army  which  is  to  go  as  reinforcements  to  the  western  end  of 
the  Island.  The  next  day  General  Serafin  Sanchez  left  for  Las  Villas 
with  the  reinforcements.  General  Rabi  went  toward  Tunas,  where  he 
will  meet  Calixto  Garcia  and  Maximo  Gomez,  Jose  Maceo,  Periquito 
Perez,  Matias  Vegas  and  Higinio  Vasquez. 

"  It  is  surprising  to  see  so  many  lawyers,  doctors,  merchants,  stu 
dents  and  others,  who  a  year  ago  were  working  at  their  offices,  now 
turned  into  soldiers  for  the  cause  of  freedom.  Early  in  the  morning, 
June  30,  we  were  informed  that  the  enemy  was  coming  toward  us. 
Our  men  were  aching  for  a  fight,  but  no  enemy  made  its  appearance. 

"  Reveille  was  sounded  at  3  A.  M.  on  July  I,  and  camp  was  struck 
at  once.  We  marched  all  day  until  the  afternoon,  when  we  halted  at  a 
place  called  Curia,  where  we  had  our  mess  of  plantains  and  yuca  root. 
Our  men  captured  at  this  place  a  Spanish  courier  bearing  important 
dispatches. 

Hurrying  for  Life  to  the  Woods. 

"  We  started  after  mess  and  halted  for  the  night  at  a  place  known 
as  El  Hondon.  When  I  awoke  on  July  2  I  found  my  leg  was  con 
siderably  swollen  from  a  wound  I  inflicted  on  myself  in  jumping  a 
barbed  wire  fence.  It  had  become  inflamed  in  walking  six  miles  in 
the  scorching  sun.  As  I  found  it  utterly  impossible  for  me  to  move 
on  I  was  ordered  by  General  Maceo  to  remain  at  a  prefect's  house, 
on  the  road,  where  the  inmates  said  they  would  look  after  me.  An 
officer  of  the  general  staff,  however,  was  detailed  to  see  that  I  was 
duly  cared  for.  The  army  surgeon,  Porfirio  Valiente,  of  General 
Maceo's  staff,  dressed  my  wound  and  I  was  left  at  the  house  of  the 
prefect.  The  Cuban  forces  continued  on  their  march. 

"Soon  after  they  had  gone  a  courier  from  the  main  body  rushed 
into  the  house  and  directed  me  to  run  for  safety  into  the  woods 
near  by,  as  a  body  of  guerrillas  would  probably  pass  the  place  where  I 
was  and  might  do  harm  to  me  and  the  other  inmates  of  the  prefect's 
house,  who  were  men  unable  to  fight,  and  women. 


556  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

"  The  prefect,  an  old  man,  at  once  sounded  the  alarm,  and  every 
body  in  the  neighborhood  rushed  for  the  nearest  woods.  While  I 
was  hiding  my  personal  effects  near  the  house,  a  volley  from  the  ap 
proaching  guerrilla  band  warned  me  to  run  for  my  life.  At  the  same 
time  that  the  Spaniards  rushed  toward  the  house  a  body  of  Cuban 
cavalry,  which  had  been  ordered  to  protect  it,  charged  them  from  an 
opposite  direction,  and,  as  I  had  no  time  to  lose  on  account  of  my 
disabled  condition,  I  started  for  the  woods,  guided  by  a  young  girl,  a 
daughter  of  the  prefect,  who  took  me  by  a  narrow  path  in  the  woods 
to  the  rebel  camp,  where  there  were  about  thirty  families. 

"  From  the  hiding-place  we  could  hear  the  firing  and  even  the 
voices  of  the  combatants.  Shortly  afterward  it  began  to  rain  copi 
ously  and  the  firing  ceased.  I  spent  the  night  in  the  woods. 

The  Spanish  Troops  Retreat. 

"  Early  on  July  3  I  went  to  the  prefect's  house.  Couriers  had 
been  sent  in  all  directions  searching  for  me.  At  the  house  I  was  told 
that  the  affair  of  the  previous  day  had  been  only  a  skirmish ;  that  the 
Spaniards  had  withdrawn  as  soon  as  they  noticed  there  was  resist 
ance  shown  them.  When  they  found  that  General  Maceo  was  wait 
ing  to  give  them  battle  they  changed  their  course  and  went  to  the 
town  of  Songo,  which  is  fortified. 

"  Going  over  the  ground  where  the  fighting  had  taken  place,  the 
previous  day,  it  was  found  that  there  were  five  dead  horses,  one  be 
longing  to  an  officer,  who  left  his  pearl-handled  revolver  by  the 
horse's  side.  Pools  of  blood  were  seen  all  around,  and  the  body  of 
a  dead  Spanish  soldier  was  found  in  the  tall  grass.  The  Spaniards' 
loss  cannot  be  estimated,  but,  judging  by  the  pools  of  blood,  they 
had  many  dead  and  wounded.  The  Cubans  lost  Major  Jose  Ines 
Echevarria,  and  a  sergeant  killed  and  three  privates  wounded. 

"  General  Maceo  was  in  ambush  three  miles  away  from  the  place 
and  had  placed  two  rapid-fire  guns  in  commanding  positions,  but  the 
enemy  changed  front  and  evaded  the  encounter.  He  sent  several 
detachments  of  his  men  after  the  Spaniards,  who  harassed  their 
column  as  they  retreated  to  Songo.  On  July  4,  which  marks  Amcri- 


LATEST  EVENTS   IN   CUBA.  557 

can  Independence,  all  was  joy  in  camp  at  dawn  and  sadness  at  night. 
Maceo's  forces,  which  kept  hunting  for  the  Spaniards,  were  informed 
while  halting  at  the  Triunfo  estate,  owned  by  an  American — Mr. 
Whiting — that  two  Spanish  columns  were  encamped  at  Loma  del 
Gato,  near  the  town  of  Cristo.  Maceo  at  once  ordered  his  men  to 
move  in  that  direction. 

"  When  General  Maceo  reached  the  place  the  Spaniards  were 'en 
gaged  in  burning  all  the  houses  by  the  roadside.  Maceo  charged 
them  with  his  own  body  guard  and  part  of  General  Cebreco's 
cavalry.  The  Spanish  cavalry  fled  before  the  Cuban  horsemen's 
charge.  The  Spaniards  then  began  to  work  two  rapid-fire  guns. 

"  Maceo's  intentions  were  to  carry  the  enemy's  position  by  assault, 
and  he  charged  several  times,  hewing  down  many  of  his  opponents 
at  each  cavalry  onslaught.  During  one  of  the  charges  Maceo,  who 
was  riding  a  superb  white  horse,  was  struck  in  the  head  by  a  bullet, 
which  lodged  in  his  brain.  He  was  taken  down  from  his  horse  by  one 
of  his  aides,  while  the  fight  continued  under  the  direction  of  General 

Cebreco. 

Death  of  General  Jose  Maceo. 

"  Maceo  was  taken  into  the  town  of  Ti  Arriba,  which  was  held  by 
the  Cubans.  He  died  shortly  afterward,  without  uttering  a  word. 
The  General  died  as  he  often  said  he  would  like  to  die,  fighting  for 
Cuban  freedom.  General  Periquito  Perez  was  by  the  side  of  Maceo 
until  the  end.  The  Spaniards  retired  into  the  town  of  Cristo,  carry 
ing  many  wounded.  The  Spanish  loss  was  undoubtedly  heavy.  The 
Cubans  lost,  beside  General  Maceo,  three  privates  killed  and  twenty- 
four  wounded. 

"  Maceo's  death  has  exasperated  his  men  so  much  that  they  are 
fretting  to  meet  the  Spaniards  again  to  avenge  their  commander's 
fate.  I  learned  that  a  fierce  fight  had  taken  place  near  Mayari  some 
days  ago.  Generals  Maximo  Gomez  and  Calixto  Garcia  are  coming 
toward  us,  and  General  Rabi  would  meet  them.  It  was  expected  that, 
combining  their  forces,  they  will  strike  a  heavy  blow  at  some  import 
ant  place.  The  Spaniards  tried  to  move  this  morning  toward  the 
point  where  we  were  encamped,  but  a  section  of  cavalry  from  Las 


558  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

Villas  on  their  way  to  meet  us  met  them,  and,  after  a  skirmish,  drove 
them  back  to  their  fortified  town." 

Similar  operations,  involving  skirmishes  without  decisive  results, 
were  carried  on  notwithstanding  the  rainy  season  and  the  outbreak  of 
yellow  fever.  The  insurgents  continued  to  receive  arms  and  ammu 
nition  from  secret  expeditions  sent  out  from  various  parts  of  the 
United  States.  The  Spanish  Government  more  than  intimated  that 
our  Government  at  Washington  was  not  exercising  all  possible  vigi 
lance  to  prevent  filibustering  expeditions,  which,  it  was  maintained  by 
our  officials  at  Washington,  was  a  groundless  charge. 

A  great  stir  was  caused  at  Madrid  on  October  i/th,  by  the  state 
ment  in  a  dispatch  from  Washington  that  President  Cleveland  in 
tended  to  intervene  in  Cuba  in  a  manner  tantamount  to  the  recogni 
tion  of  the  independence  of  the  insurgents.  The  Impartial,  a  semi 
official  journal  at  Madrid,  commenting  on  the  report,  declared  that 
Spain  ought  to  demand  a  full  explanation  of  the  Washington  Gov 
ernment. 

Anger  in  Madrid. 

"  She  cannot  brook  such  a  threat  over  her  head,"  continued  the 
Impartial,  "  even  for  a  single  day.  By  what  right  do  the  United  States 
define  the  time  for  Spain  to  settle  a  question  of  her  internal  adminis 
tration  ?  It  must  be  affirmed  before  the  whole  world  that  the  Amer 
ican  Government  cannot  impose  any  sort  of  terms  upon  us." 

After  denouncing  the  United  States'  "  fictional  neutrality,"  the  Im 
partial  concluded  as  follows  : 

"  The  conduct  of  the  United  States  will  arouse  general  indignation. 
If  Spain  should  remain  alone  in  a  conflict  with  the  United  States, 
Spaniards  by  their  own  efforts  will  know  how  to  mark  the  difference 
between  the  noble  defenders  of  their  own  property  and  the  vile  traf 
fickers  at  Washington." 

Such  expressions  were  not  calculated  to  cement  more  closely  the 
bonds  of  peace  between  the  two  nations.  The  resolutions  in  the 
platforms  of  the  Republican  and  Democratic  parties  expressing  strong 
sympathy  with  the  Cubans  in  their  conflict,  still  further  irritated  the 
Spanish  Government  and  pointed  to  a  possible  rupture  between  the 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA.  555 

two  nations.  Mr.  Cleveland  was  plainly  resolved  to  take  no  notice  of 
the  angry  mutterings  of  thoughtless  partizans.  His  policy  was  non 
interference,  equal  justice  to  all  and  a  peaceful  attitude  on  the  part  of 
our  Foreign  Office.  Such  an  attitude  would  be  approved  after  the 
clamor  of  the  hour  had  subsided. 

With  the  election  of  Mr.  McKinley  fresh  alarm  was  felt  in  Spain 
and  new  hope  among  the  friends  of  Cuba.  Would  belligerent  rights 
be  granted  to  the  insurgents?  Would  there  be  a  formal  and  authori 
tative  expression  of  the  sympathy  of  the  American  people  for  the 
gallant  patriots  struggling  for  life  and  liberty  against  the  tyranny  and 
oppression  of  Spain  ?  It  was  conceded  to  be  more  likely  that  active 
measures  in  behalf  of  Cuba  would  be  adopted  and  vigorously  enforced 
under  the  new  administration.  It  was  possible  that  Mr.  McKinley 
would  adopt  a  policy  intended  to  secure  to  Cuba  freedom  and  inde 
pendence.  Spain  was  stirred  to  a  half  desperation  and  the  patriot 
army  of  Cuba  nerved  itself  afresh  for  the  sword  and  victory. 

News  from  the  Battle-field. 

Under  the  most  recent  advices,  a  close  observer  of  Cuban  affairs 
makes  the  following  statement  of  the  situation  : 

"  The  Cubans  can  continue  to  use  the  '  fight-when-you-please '  tac 
tics  that  have  enabled  them  to  carry  the  revolution  through  the  750 
miles  of  narrow  Cuba  against  Spanish  masses,  which,  if  not  so  large, 
were  even  better  equipped  with  railroads,  telephone  and  telegraph 
lines  than  are  the  Weyler  hosts  to-day. 

"  Spain  has  200,000  troops  in  Cuba.  Two-thirds  of  them  are 
needed  to  guard  the  fortified  towns  and  the  trocha.  The  other  third 
form  General  Weyler's  army  of  operations,  of  50,000  men,  picked 
troops,  guerrillas,  regular  cavalry,  infantry  and  mountain  artillery. 
This  force  cannot  well  be  increased  in  numbers  without  large  rein 
forcements  from  Spain,  for  to  withdraw  or  to  weaken  a  single  garri 
son  means  the  destroying  of  a  town  by  the  Cubans  and  the  loss  to 
Spain  of  a  stronghold,  a  storehouse  and  a  base  of  possible  operations. 

"  The  trocha  garrisons  might  be  brought  into  active  service  with 
out  weakening  Spain's  chances,  but  the  '  trocha  idea '  seems  to  fill 


660  LATEST   EVENTS    IN   CUBA. 

such  a  large  part  of  the  Spanish  military  brain  that  it  is  not  likely  to 
be  done.  The  Cuban  leaders,  too,  may  be  relied  upon  to  keep  up  a 
vast  amount  of  demonstration  near  these  alleged  military  '  strong ' 
lines  to  foster  the  Spanish  notion  that  50,000  useless  trocha  soldiers 
are  useful.  Of  Spain's  50,000  soldiers  now  available  for  active  duty 
30,000  are  now  being  sent  against  Maceo's  mountains  in  Eastern 
Pinar  del  Rio,  just  west  of  the  Mariel  (Weyler's)  trocha.  The  other 
2O;ooo  are  scattered. 

Odds  in  Favor  of  the  Insurgents. 

"  Weyler  has  taken  the  field.  His  forces  are  near  the  Rubi  Moun 
tains.  He  cannot  hope  to  win,  even  should  Maceo  be  killed,  for  then 
the  Cuban  army  would  merely  split  up,  would  be  all  the  harder  to 
catch  and  would  occupy  the  province.  The  war  would  only  last  the 
longer.  It  is  likely  that  Maceo  will  have  an  easy  time  of  it  shortly. 
Unless  Weyler  deserts  his  Eastern  trocha  or  abandons  many  towns, 
he  must  move  most  of  his  force  out  of  Pinar  del  Rio  province,  across 
the  Mariel  trocha  and  into  East  Central  Cuba  to  use  them  against  the 
westward  movement  in  three  columns  of  General  Gomez,  whose  ad 
vance  guard  is  already  in  Matanzas  province. 

"  Even  should  Weyler  abandon  the  eastern  trocha,  collect  all  his 
available  scattered  columns  and  immediately  mass  80,000  men  against 
Maceo,  it  is  not  at  all  likely  that  he  would  crush,  or  even  corner  and 
starve  out  the  Cuban  General,  such  are  the  wonderful  strategic  advan 
tages  of  Cuba's  Western  wooded  mountains.  Weyler  may  even  mass 
this  number  of  men  against  Gomez.  This  move  would  seem  equally 
unavailing,  for  last  year  he  tried  it  without  success  with  over  125,000 
men  and  with  railroads,  telephones  and  telegraphs  at  his  disposal. 

"  The  Cuban  farmers  have  stuck  to  their  fields  despite  positive 
orders  to  leave  them  for  Spain's  fortified  towns,  and  they  have  not 
even  been  intimidated  by  wholesale  butcheries  in  stopping  their  all- 
important  service  to  their  brethren  in  arms.1' 


GENERAL  ANTONIO  MACEO. 

LOSELY  following  the  events  narrated  in  the  foregoing  pages, 
came  reports  of  the  death  of  the  renowned  Cuban  leader, 
General  Antonio  Maceo.  The  death  of  the  brother  of  this 
famous  chieftain  has  already  been  recorded.  Each  was  a  tower  of 
strength  to  the  cause  of  independence  in  Cuba,  and  with  their  death 
it  was  believed  in  Spanish  circles  that  a  fatal  blow  had  been  struck  to 
the  cause  of  the  insurgents. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  there  was  great  joy  both  in  Havana  and 
in  Madrid  when  it  was  reported  that  Antonio  Maceo  had  fallen  on 
the  field  of  battle.  The  report  was,  however,  received  with  reserve, 
as  this  was  the  sixth  time  in  which  he  had  been  reported  killed.  His 
ability  to  rise  from  death  appeared  to  be  like  that  of  the  fabled  Phoenix, 
which  sprang  from  its  own  ashes,  and  spread  its  wings  with  renewed 
youth  and  vigor.  Soon  the  question  agitated  two  continents,  "  Is 
Maceo  really  dead  ?  "  The  public  mind  was  in  a  state  of  uncertainty, 
and  eagerly  awaited  confirmation  or  denial  of  the  news. 

In  forty-eight  hours  it  was  stated  by  the  representatives  of  the  re 
public  of  Cuba,  that  Maceo  had  been  foully  assassinated,  and  circum 
stantial  details  were  reported.  It  was  affirmed  that  he  had  been  lured 
into  ambush  under  pretense  of  discussing  with  him  terms  of  peace, 
and  in  open  violation  of  the  laws  of  civilized  warfare,  his  flag  of  truce 
had  been  disregarded,  and  he  had  been  slain  by  the  foulest  treachery. 
It  was  declared  that  the  physician  on  his  staff,  Dr.  Zertucha,  was  a 
prime  mover  in  the  intrigue  that  cost  Maceo  his  life. 

Conflicting  Reports. 

It  was  not  long  before  reports  came  that  the  great  leader  was  still 
alive,  and  although  he  had  disappeared  from  the  scene  of  his  recent 
operations,  he  was  still  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  and  was  dealing 
sturdy  blows  at  the  forces  of  General  Weyler.  That  he  had  lost  his 
life  seemed  to  be  confirmed  by  a  letter  purporting  to  have  been  writ 
ten  by  young  Gomez,  son  of  General  Maximo  Gomez,  chief  in  com 
mand  of  the  insurgents.  The  body  of  young  Gomez  was  found  with 
that  of  Maceo,  and  the  letter  stated  that  he  had  taken  his  own  life 
36  561 


562  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

rather  than  be  separated  from  the  slain  body  of  his  leader.  Various 
documents  were  also  said  to  have  been  found  which  proved  that  one 
of  the  bodies  found  was  that  of  General  Maceo.  Still,  many  Cuban 
sympathizers  throughout  the  country  refused  to  believe  he  had  met 
his  death. 

The  following  despatch,  in  detail  confirmatory  of  his  previous 
advices,  was  received  by  the  Spanish  Minister  DeLome,  at  Wash 
ington,  from  the  Spanish  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  at  Madrid  : 

"  The  insurgent  leader,  Antonio  Maceo,  realizing  the  impossibility 
of  remaining  in  Pinar  Del  Rio  Province,  and  being  constantly  pur 
sued  by  Spanish  columns,  crossed  the  trocha  on  the  4th  instant.  He 
was  at  the  head  of  over  two  thousand  men,  whom  he  had  recruited 
from  the  local  bands  of  the  western  part  of  the  Province  of  Havana, 
when  he  was  overtaken  by  Major  Cirujeda's  column,  350  men  strong. 
Maceo's  forces  were  routed,  the  leader  being  killed  in  the  engage 
ment,  and  Maximo  Gomez's  son  committing  suicide  after  being 
wounded. 

"The  corpses  have  been  identified,  and  their  clothing,  arms,  and 
the  documents  found  in  their  possession  were  taken  by  the  Spaniards. 
The  remainder  of  the  brave  band  dispersed  in  consequence  of  this 
brilliant  victory  of  our  troops." 

Details  of  Maceo's  Death. 

This  intelligence  was  supplemented  by  a  trustworthy  despatch 
from  Havana,  as  follows  : 

"  The  confident  claim  of  tne  Spanish  official:;  that  they  have  abundant 
proof  of  the  death  of  Antonio  Maceo  and  his  young  aide,  Francisco 
Gomez,  son  of  Maximo  Gomez,  continues.  The  details  which  are 
announced,  however,  of  the  facts  relied  upon  for  the  identification  of 
the  two  Cubans  have  caused  an  undercurrent  of  doubt  in  this  city. 

"  Major  Cirujeda,  who  commanded  the  Spanish  forces  in  the 
engagement  at  Punta  Brava,  and  whose  troops  discovered  the  two 
bodies  and  gave  the  evidence  of  identification,  has  consented  to  be 
interviewed  on  the  circumstances  of  the  case.  He  said  to  a  news 
paper  correspondent  that  when  the  insurgents  were  routed  it  was 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA,  563 

evident  that  the  body  of  the  chief  was  abandoned  on  the  field.  The 
Spanish  column,  without  stopping  to  explore  the  field,  went  in  hot 
pursuit  of  the  insurgents,  and  followed  them  for  a  mile  or  more. 
Meantime  young  Gomez  is  supposed  to  have  committed  suicide  by 
Maceo's  side.  While  the  troops  were  returning  to  Guatao,  after  the 
pursuit  had  ceased,  various  guerrillas  belonging  to  Major  Cirujeda's 
command,  went  over  the  field  where  the  rout  of  the  insurgents  had 
occurred,  and  searched  the  bodies  remaining  there  for  anything  of 
importance. 

" '  The  body  of  Maceo/  Major  Cirujeda  continued,  'was  relieved 
of  a  ring,  clothing,  etc.  The  guerrillas  who  performed  the  act  were 
at  the  time  quite  unaware  that  the  body  was  that  of  Maceo.  In  fact, 
little  attention  was  paid  to  the  identity  of  the  bodies.  It  was  already 
dark  on  the  field,  and  it  was  raining  also.  Various  other  bodies  were 
also  searched.' 

Indignities  Offered  to  the  Slain. 

"It  was  an  adjutant,  according  to  Major  Cirujeda's  further  state 
ment,  who  insisted  that  the  above-mentioned  body  and  the  other, 
which  was  lying  by  its  side,  were  evidently  of  importance,  and  that  they 
must  not  be  left  thus  without  identification.  *  The  two  bodies  were, 
therefore,  tied  by  the  feet  to  the  tails  of  some  horses,'  Major  Cirujeda 
went  on  to  relate,  '  and  thus  dragged  over  the  ground,  the  intention 
being  to  carry  them  to  town  for  identification.  But,  after  proceeding 
for  a  while,  the  horses  became  tired  with  their  burden,  and  the  bodies 
were  therefore  cut  loose  and  left  in  the  road.' 

"  When  the  troops  reached  Guatao  Major  Cirujeda  proceeded  to 
read  the  documents  which  had  been  found  upon  the  bodies.  They 
included  a  letter  addressed  to  '  Dear  Panchot,'  and  signed  M. 
Gomez,  a  diary  of  Maceo's  operations  from  November  28  to  Decem 
ber  7  and  a  note  in  pencil,  found  on  the  body  of  the  younger  man, 
saying  he  died  rather  than  abandon  the  body  of  his  general. 

"  The  undershirt  and  socks  on  the  body  of  the  elder  man  were 
marked  with  the  initials  'A.  M./  and  a  ring  on  the  finger  contained 
the  engraved  inscription,  '  Antonio  y  Maria.'  After  reading  these 


564  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

documents  Major  Cirujeda  says  he  became  convinced  that  the  bodies 
which  the  troops  had  abandoned  were  those  of  Antonio  Maceo  and 
the  young  Gomez.  But  it  was  then  too  late  to  return  and  recover 
them.  Major  Cirujeda,  however,  expresses  the  firm  conviction  that 
they  were  those  of  Maceo  and  Gomez's  son. 

"  With  the  insurgents  in  the  battle,  Major  Cirujeda  says,  was  a  beau 
tiful  Amazon  about  22  years  of  age,  who  urged  the  rebels  'a  la 
machete/  but  at  the  same  time  interposed  to  prevent  the  killing  of 
the  prisoners.  Major  Cirujeda  has  taken  charge  of  the  objects  found 
on  the  body  said  to  be  that  of  Maceo  for  further  examination.  There 
were  a  gold  watch,  a  splendid  pair  of  cuff  buttons  made  by  Moreau 
Torin,  Paris,  with  five-pointed  stars  on  them  and  enclosed  in  a  big 
strapped  leather  case,  a  hunting  knife  with  an  ebony  handle  and  gold 
mounted,  and  a  good  waterproof  coat.  All  of  these  were  taken  from 
the  body  by  the  scout  Santa  Ana.  It  is  thus  seen  that  there  has  been 
no  actual  identification  of  the  bodies  themselves,  the  conviction  as  to 
identity  resting  upon  the  evidence  of  documents  and  articles  found 
upon  them. 

A  Most  Striking  Character. 

"There  is  no  doubt,  however,  of  the  assurance  of  the  general  public 
here  that  Maceo  is  dead.  It  is  pointed  out  that  he  met  his  death  in 
a  manner  similar  to  that  of  Jose  Marti  and  Zyas.  His  loss  is  con 
sidered  as  the  heaviest  blow  the  revolution  has  received,  and  it  is  felt 
that  his  continued  life  was  all  that  could  save  the  insurgent  move 
ment.  He  was  the  most  striking  personal  character  of  the  outbreak. 

"  Major  Cirujeda  telegraphed  to  headquarters  that  after  the  battle 
at  Punta  Brava  he  had  been  obliged  to  abandon  the  bodies  which  in 
the  course  of  a  reconnoissance  his  troops  had  discovered  to  be  the 
bodies  of  Maceo  and  Francisco  Gomez.  The  guide  of  the  column 
said  that  the  body  looked  like  Maceo.  Some  one  standing  by  ob 
served  that  Maceo  was  in  Pinar  del  Rio,  but  it  is  nevertheless  believed 
that  the  bodies  were  those  of  the  Cuban  leaders.  The  bugler  of  the 
battalion  of  San  Quentin  was  taking  away  from  the  fallen  Cuban  a 
ring,  when  he  found  that  he  was  still  alive.  He  thereupon  killed 
him  with  the  machete.  The  insurgents,  upon  noting  the  small  force 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA.  665 

of  the  reconnoitering  party,  rushed  in  with  a  large  number  on  the 
troops  and  succeeded  in  carrying  away  the  body  said  to  be  Maceo's, 
but  without  securing  any  of  the  jewels  and  papers  which  had  been 
found  upon  it. 

"  Major  Cirujeda,  in  order  not  to  abandon  his  dead  and  wounded, 
was  compelled  to  retreat  to  Punta  Brava.  At  Punta  Brava  the  sol 
diers  delivered  the  jewels  and  documents  which  they  had  found  with 
the  two  bodies  and  then  the  chief  of  the  column  became  convinced 
of  the  death  of  Maceo." 

Following  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  written  in  pencil  which  was 
found  on  the  body  of  the  youth  supposed  to  be  Francisco  Gomez  : 

"  Dear  Mamma,  Papa,  Dear  Brothers  :  I  die  at  my  post.  I  did  not 
want  to  abandon  the  body  of  General  Maceo,  and  I  stayed  with  him. 
I  was  wounded  in  two  places,  and  as  I  did  not  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy  I  have  killed  myself.  I  am  dying.  I  die  pleased  at  being 
in  the  defense  of  the  Cuban  cause.  I  wait  for  you  in  the  other 
world.  Your  son,  "  FRANCISCO  GOMEZ. 

"  Torro  in  San  Domingo." 

("  Friends  or  foes,  please  transmit  to  its  destination,  as  requested 
by  one  dead.") 

Ovation  to  General  Weyler. 

General  Weyler,  who  was  absent  from  Havana  when  Maceo's  death 
was  reported,  immediately  returned,  arriving  at  half-past  five  in  the 
afternoon.  He  rode  into  the  city  on  horseback,  accompanied  by  two 
squadrons  of  cavalry.  His  coming  had  been  made  known  to  the 
public,  and  large  crowds  gathered  to  welcome  him.  He  was  given  a 
popular  ovation  from  the  time  he  reached  the  city  limits  until  he  ar 
rived  at  the  Palace.  At  some  places  along  his  route  girls  strewed 
flowers  in  his  pathway,  and  he  was  in  other  ways  treated  as  a  popular 
hero. 

Calle  Obispo,  Calle  O'Reilly,  the  other  streets  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Palace,  and  the  Plaza  de  Armas  were  jammed  with  people,  who  en 
thusiastically  cheered  the  Captain- General  as  he  rode  along.  When 
he  arrived  near  the  Palace  the  enthusiastic  crowd  surrounded  him, 


566  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

despite  the  military,  and  he  was  compelled  to  stop  his  horse  in  order 
not  to  ride  down  his  admirers,  who  greeted  him  with  all  manner  of 
loyal  cries.  A  passage-way  was  finally  opened,  and  General  Weyler 
proceeded  to  the  Palace.  Shortly  after  he  had  entered  the  building 
he  appeared  upon  a  balcony,  and  was  greeted  with  the  most  tumul 
tuous  cheering. 

Rejoicings  at  Havana. 

The  city  at  night  presented  a  most  animated  aspect,  reflecting  the 
joy  felt  by  the  Spaniards  because  of  Maceo's  death  and  General  Wey- 
ler's  triumph  over  the  insurgents  in  the  western  province.  Casa 
Blanca,  the  little  village  under  the  walls  of  the  Cabala  fortress,  and 
Regla,  on  the  southern  side  of  the  bay,  held  little  demonstrations  of 
their  own  in  honor  of  the  victorious  return  of  General  Weyler. 

Further  details  of  General  Maceo's  untimely  death  were  soon  after 
received,  and  were  as  follows  : 

Dr.  Maximo  Zertucha,  formerly  the  physician  of  Antonio  Maceo, 
the  second  in  command  of  the  insurgent  forces,  who,  after  the  death 
of  Maceo,  surrendered  to  General  Tort,  at  San  Felipe,  was  inter 
viewed  by  a  reporter  of  La  Lucha,  one  of  the  leading  newspapers  of 
Havana.  Dr.  Zertucha  said  that  Maceo  intended  to  attempt  to  cross 
the  trocha  on  December  3,  but  was  prevented  by  sickness  from  doing 
s»o.  On  the  next  day,  however,  it  was  announced  that  he  would  not 
march  across  the  trocha  with  his  men,  but  would  go  by  water  around 
the  end  of  the  trocha  and  meet  an  insurgent  force  on  the  Havana  side 
of  the  line.  Two  boats  were  accordingly  prepared,  they  being  painted 
black  in  order  to  prevent  their  being  seen,  and  the  oars  were  muffled 
so  they  could  not  be  heard  while  playing  in  the  row-locks.  At  night 
Maceo  and  twenty-six  men  embarked  in  the  boats,  and  passed  in 
front  of  the  town  of  Mariel,  at  the  northern  extremity  of  the  western 
trocha,  without  being  seen  by  any  of  the  Spanish  sentries  there 
abouts.  The  insurgent  leader,  Miro,  and  several  other  commanders, 
accompanied  Maceo.  The  short  voyage  was  accomplished  without 
the  slightest  mishap,  and  the  insurgent  party  landed  at  the  point 
selected  without  being  discovered. 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA.  567 

When,  on  December  4,  the  engagement  took  place  between  the  in 
surgents  and  Major  Cirujeda's  command,  Maceo  was  encamped  with 
2,000  men.  When  the  Spanish  force  appeared,  Maceo  divided  his 
men  into  two  wings,  his  intention  being  to  surround  the  Spanish  col 
umn.  He  remained  alone  with  his  staff  for  a  moment,  watching  the 
fighting,  and  exclaimed,  "  This  goes  well." 

Shortly  afterwards  he  was  hit  by  two  bullets,  one  striking  him  on 
the  chin,  breaking  hi3  jaw  and  passing  out  at  the  junction  of  the 
neck  and  shoulder,  and  the  other  striking  him  in  the  abdomen. 
Either  wound  would  have  caused  death,  and  the  insurgent  leader  ex 
pired  in  a  short  time. 

Maceo's  Body  Recovered. 

The  insurgents  who  were  righting  desperately  against  the  Spanish 
attack,  were  panic-stricken  when  they  heard  of  the  death  of  their 
chief.  They  fled  in  disorder,  not  making  any  attempt  then  to  take 
Maceo's  body  with  them.  The  Spaniards  then  returned  to  Punta 
Brava  with  their  dead  and  wounded.  When  the  field  was  clear  some 
of  the  insurgents  returned  and  carried  Maceo's  body  off  with  them. 
Dr.  Zertucha  said  that  he  did  not  know  where  the  remains  were 
buried,  and  thus  far  the  search  made  by  the  Spaniards  has  proved 
fruitless. 

From  other  accounts  it  appears  that  Maceo  and  his  staff  were  en 
camped  in  the  hills  and  expecting  the  arrival  of  Cuban  reinforce 
ments  under  Brigadier-General  Sanchez  and  others,  ordered  by  Gen 
eral  Aguirre  to  receive  and  escort  the  noted  Pinar  del  Rio  chief  to 
the  east.  Major  Cirujeda  was  totally  ignorant  of  Maceo's  presence 
in  the  district,  believing  him  to  be  still  west  of  the  trocha.  But 
learning  that  a  Spanish  fort,  on  the  San  Pedro  had  been  fired  upon 
that  morning  by  insurgents,  he  started  out  on  a  reconnoitering  tour 
at  the  head  of  a  remnant  of  the  San  Quentin  battalion,  accompanied 
by  a  force  of  local  guerrillas  under  Captain  Peral.  The  latter's  men 
were  dressed  in  a  manner  very  similar  to  that  of  the  insurgent  troops, 
and  they  marched  in  the  vanguard  of  the  Spanish  column. 

Mistaking  these  for  Sanchez's  vanguard,  challenges  having  been 


668  LATEST   EVENTS    IN   CUBA. 

made  and  countersigns  given  satisfactorily,  Maceo,  surrounded  by 
members  of  his  staff  and  a  handful  of  followers,  advanced  with  all 
confidence  to  meet  his  friends,  when  the  guerrillas  received  them  with 
a  rifle  volley.  Maceo  fell  at  the  first  fire,  his  men,  temporarily  dis 
concerted  with  surprise,  retiring  by  the  flanks.  Young  Gomez,  though 
he  had  been  previously  wounded  at  the  trocha  and  still  had  his  arm 
in  a  sling,  assisted,  as  the  engagement  became  general,  in  dragging 
his  chief  to  a  place  of  temporary  safety  on  the  grass,  and  remained 
by  his  side  until,  realizing  that  they  had  been  abandoned,  Gomez 
wrote  the  note  to  his  parents,  which  has  been  previously  referred  to, 
and  then  committed  suicide  by  shooting  himself  with  a  revolver. 

"I  Die  for  Cuba  and  Independence." 

After  the  fight  the  Spanish  scout,  Santa  Ana,  accompanied  by  the 
bugler  of  the  San  Quentin  battalion,  while  reconnoitering  the  field  in 
quest  of  documents  and  other  objects  of  importance  or  value,  ran 
upon  the  body  of  Maceo,  who  was  still  alive.  As  the  bugler  pulled 
the  ring  from  his  finger,  Maceo  asked  in  an  agonized  tone  if  they 
were  Spaniards  or  Cubans. 

"  Spaniards,"  said  the  bugler,  and  he  raised  his  machete  as  the  dy 
ing  chief  said  :  "  I  die  for  Cuba  and  independence." 

As  the  knife  came  down,  almost  severing  the  victim's  head  from 
his  body,  the  scout,  interposing,  remarked :  "  That  man  resembles 
Maceo."  {t  Impossible,"  responded  the  bugler.  "  Maceo  is  in  Pinar 
del  Rio." 

The  scout  insisted  that  at  least  it  was  a  chief  of  some  importance, 
and,  tying  the  body  by  the  feet  to  his  horse's  tail,  he  proceeded. 
Meanwhile,  the  insurgents,  learning  that  their  chief's  body  was  in 
Spanish  hands,  and  being  evidently  reinforced,  rallied  and  made  a  new 
attack  and  succeeded  in  recovering  the  body.  The  Spanish  officers, 
unaware  of  its  importance,  cut  it  loose  as  an  unnecessary  impediment 

It  thus  seems  that  Major  Cirujeda  did  not  know  that  his  forces  had 
encountered  and  killed  Maceo  till  after  reaching  Guatao  at  nightfall 
and  reading  the  documents,  etc.  The  full  statements  of  Dr.  Zertucha 
were  not  allowed  to  be  telegraphed  even  to  Madrid. 


General   Antonio    Maceo. 

BY    GONZALO    DE    QUESADA, 
Charge  D' Affaires  of  the  Republic  of  Cuba. 

THERE    is   one    dark    day   that   will    be    forever    remembered 
by  the  Cubans.     On  that  day  fell  General  Antonio  Maceo. 
The  life  of  this  hero  was  cut  short  by  treachery  in  the  moments 
in  which  he  was  to  astonish  the  world  by  a  most  brilliant  blow  to 
Spanish  domination — an  attack  on  the  suburbs  of  Havana. 

Antonio  Maceo  was  the  son  of  Mariana  Grajales,  who  will  go  to 
posterity  for  having  given  fourteen  children  to  the  cause  of  liberty. 
His  father  was  Marcos  Maceo,  a  cattle-driver.  He  was  born  in  San 
tiago  de  Cuba  on  the  I4th  of  July,  1848,  the  anniversary  of  the  fall 
of  the  Bastile.  When  the  revolution  of  Yara  broke  out  Antonio  was 
a  stalwart  youth,  who  had  followed  his  father's  occupation,  and  re 
vealed  already  the  qualities  which  afterwards  made  him  famous — 
sagacity  and  fearlessness.  Some  days  after  the  outbreak,  Marcos 
assembled  his  children.  His  house  had  been  burned ;  his  family  had 
been  ill-treated  by  the  Spaniards  ;  his  native  land  was  in  arms  against 
the  tyrant.  His  own  children  and  his  step-sons  took  the  oath  of 
fighting  to  the  last  for  Cuba's  independence,  and  not  one  failed  to 
keep  the  word ! 

In  the  first  engagement  Antonio,  a  private,  so  distinguished  him 
self  in  the  front  rank  of  the  patriots  that  General  Donato  Marniol 
congratulated  him.  Without  ever  enjoying  a  furlough,  without  hav 
ing  been  reprimanded,  without  any  favoritism,  he  rose  by  sheer  merit 
to  the  highest  rank  in  the  Army  of  the  Republic.  His  twenty-four 
scars  and  three  bullets  in  his  body  were  the  best  testimonies  of  his 
invaluable  services  to  his  country.  He  fought  those  ten  years  like  a 
lion.  His  deeds  read  like  a  novel  or  the  feats  of  some  superhuman 
being.  The  bullets  seemed  to  caress  him,  but  never  to  wish  him 
much  harm. 

569 


570  LATEST   EVENTS    IN   CUBA. 

When  the  treaty  of  El  Zanjon  was  signed,  while  the  Cubans  were 
being  duped  by  Spanish  promises  of  reforms,  General  Antonio  Maceo 
remained  firm,  with  some  hundreds  of  his  loyal  followers.  The  bat 
talion  of  San  Quintin — curiously  enough  the  one  which  twenty  years 
after  killed  him — was  decimated  in  two  days  of  constant  firing.  The 
Spaniards  reported  that  when  Maceo  charged  he  would  cry  out  to 
the  Spanish  officers :  "  This  is  the  way  the  brave  of  San  Ulpiano 
surrender ! " 

Defied  the  Forces  of  Spain. 

All  efforts  to  induce  him  to  capitulate  were  useless.  He  protested 
at  the  famous  Baragua  against  the  compact  entered  into ;  he  fought 
four  months  alone  against  all  the  forces  of  Spain,  in  the  midst  of  his 
indifferent  compatriots.  The  Spanish  commander  attempted  to  pro 
pose  money  to  him.  Maceo  answered  to  the  Spanish  Brigadier- 
General  Fuenks  :  "  You  take  advantage  of  the  distance  and  the  slight 
acquaintance  there  exists  between  us  to  offend  my  honor  in  a  way  I 
shall  never  forget.  Do  the  Spanish  believe  that  men  who  fight  for  a 
principle  and  military  glory,  who  respect  their  reputation  and  honor, 
can  sell  themselves  when  they  have  the  hope  yet  of  saving  their  prin 
ciples,  or  to  die  in  the  attempt  without  degrading  themselves  ?  No  • 
men  who,  like  me,  fight  for  the  sacred  cause  of  liberty  will  break 
their  weapons  when  they  are  impotent  to  win  before  degrading 
themselves." 

And  when,  finally,  he  left  for  Jamaica  to  see  if  he  could  obtain  new 
means  for  the  war,  with  his  faithful  companion,  General  Ruis  Rivera, 
a  man  of  the  same  temper,  he  wrote  :  "  I  did  not  submit  to  the  treaty 
nor  to  the  terrible  situation.  I  left  because  my  friends  deceived  me 
with  a  commission,  when,  in  reality,  they  wished  to  save  my  life." 

Maceo,  during  the  peace,  traveled  in  several  South  American  coun 
tries  ;  in  Honduras  he  held  an  important  government  position ;  in 
Costa  Rica  he  devoted  himself  to  the  establishment  of  a  tobacco  col 
ony,  aided  by  the  government.  During  these  years  he  studied  lan 
guages,  tactics,  strategy,  and  was  a  devourer  of  the  best  literature  ; 
but  never  for  one  moment  did  he  give  up  his  ideal,  not  even  when  he 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN    CUBA.  571 

enjoyed  the  blessings  of  the  happiest  of  companionship  with  his  wife, 
the  virtuous  and  patriotic  Maria  Cabral. 

In  1884,  with  General  Gomez,  he  tried  to  renew  the  war,  but  the 
country  was  not  ready  yet;  in  1890  he  went  to  Havana  and  Santiago 
de  Cuba,  and  was  preparing  to  rebel,  when  he  was  banished.  He  then 
returned  to  Central  America,  where,  in  July,  1893,  Marti  conferred 
with  him.  Maceo  commenced  immediately  to  prepare  for  the  coming 
revolution.  The  following  year  the  Spaniards  tried  to  assassinate 
him  in  San  Jose,  Costa  Rica.  On  leaving  the  theatre  the  Cubans  and 
Spaniards  clashed ;  General  Maceo  was  assisting  a  lady  who  had 
fainted  ;  a  treacherous  Spaniard  fired  his  revolver  at  the  general's 
back,  and  the  bullet  he  then  received  he  carried  with  him  to  the  day 
of  his  death. 

On  the  3ist  day  of  March,  1895,  he  landed  at  Duaba,  on  the  north 
ern  coast  of  Baracoa,  with  a  few  followers.  As  soon  as  he  met  peo 
ple  he  sent  a  despatch  to  the  Spanish  commander :  "  Maceo  is  here." 
The  Spanish  troops  were  defeated  in  the  first  engagement,  but  they 
sent  thousands  after  him  ;  they  thought  they  had  him  caught;  he  was 
reported  killed  and  buried.  Finally,  after  a  series  of  hardships,  and 
suffering  enough  to  discourage  any  other  mortal,  he  joined  the 
nucleus  of  the  Cuban  army  ;  two  weeks  afterwards  his  presence  alone 
in  the  Island  had  increased  the  army  in  the  Eastern  Department  to 
seven  thousand  men  ;  when  Marti  and  Gomez  met  him  they  were 
organized  and  ready  for  ten  years  of  war,  if  necessary. 

His  Brilliant  Victories. 

The  story  of  his  exploits  during  this  Revolution  are  current  history : 
he  fought  Marshal  Martinez  Campos  at  Peralejos,  inflicting  a  tre 
mendous  defeat  on  the  Spaniards,  in  which  General  Santosceldes  was 
killed;  he  was  General  Gomez's  coadjutor  in  the  great  invasion  of  the 
Western  provinces,  defeating  Martinez  Campos  again  at  Coliseo,  Gen 
erals  Cornell,  Lugue,  Echague,  and  whipping  Colonel  Deods  to  the  sea. 

After  reaching  the  westernmost  part  of  the  Island,  Mantua,  he  re 
turned  to  the  provinces  of  Havana  and  Matanzas.  General  Weyler,  hav 
ing  proclaimed  the  pacification  of  Havana  and  Pinar  del  Rio  in  order 


572  LATEST    EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

to  influence  the  action  of  both  houses  at  Washington,  General  Maceo 
retraced  his  steps  and  again  entered  Pinar  del  Rio.  Then  he  became 
the  central  figure  of  the  revolution  ;  the  eyes  of  the  world  were  all 
fixed  on  this  giant,  who  defied  the  whole  power  of  Spain  and  her  best 
generals  with  a  few  thousands  of  patriots ;  the  military  trocha  con 
structed  to  keep  him  from  returning  to  Havana,  killed  as  many  thou 
sands  of  Spanish  soldiers  as  the  total  of  Maceo's  army ;  every  time  a 
Spanish  column  dared  attack  him  it  was  destroyed,  leaving  hundreds 
of  arms  in  Maceo's  possession. 

A  Victim  of  Treason. 

Finally,  Weyler  decided  to  take  the  field  against  him,  but  Weyler 
returned  to  Havana  without  finding  the  astute  Cuban,  who  would  not 
give  battle  except  when  he  was  sure  of  victory.  The  clamor  of  Spain 
and  the  requests  of  her  ministers  forced  Weyler  to  again  go  in  his 
quest.  Maceo,  who  had  thoroughly  organized  his  forces  in  the  prov 
inces,  and  had  under  him  General  Ruis  Rivera,  in  whom  he  absolutely 
confided,  resolved  to  discredit  General  Weyler  completely ;  he  would 
cross  the  so-called  impenetrable  trocha,  would  appear  in  Havana,  burn 
the  outskirts,  and  then  join  General  Gomez  for  the  winter  campaign. 
General  Weyler  would  be  looking  for  him  among  the  hills,  and  the 
authorities  at  Madrid  would  say  that  Maceo  had  burned  Mariana. 

He  crossed  the  line  on  the  4th  of  December;  on  the  5th  he  cele 
brated  the  event,  on  the  6th  and  7th  he  was  joined  by  Cuban  forces 
of  Havana  province,  about  four  hundred  in  number.  As  yet  the 
Spaniards  were  not  aware  of  his  crossing ;  here  the  work  of  treason 
commenced ;  to  all  appearances  the  man  in  whom  he  had  entire  con 
fidence,  his  physician,  Dr.  Zertucha,  communicated  to  the  Spaniards 
the  news  and  details  of  where  General  Maceo  would  be ;  in  those 
days  desertions  had  occurred  from  the  Spanish  ranks ;  it  was  easy  to 
simulate  a  Cuban  force  with  Spanish  regulars. 

General  Maceo  was  marching  with  his  men  on  the  yth,  when  they 
met  Major  Cirujeda  with  six  hundred  of  the  San  Quintin  regiment, 
famous  for  its  killing  of  pacificos ;  at  first  General  Maceo  took  them 
to  be  Cubans ;  soon  was  the  error  discovered.  A  fierce  battle  fol* 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA.  573 

lowed,  General  Maceo  commanding  the  centre ;  the  outlook  was  so 
bright  that  General  Maceo  exclaimed,  "  This  goes  well."  To  decide 
the  engagement,  he  charged,  his  machete  on  high,  at  the  head  of  his 
staff,  as  he  had  done  a  hundred  times  before.  Fifty  paces  from  the 
enemy  a  terrific  volley  laid  him  low,  with  the  valiant  Francisco 
Gomez,  the  son  of  the  general-in-chief.  Only  General  Miro  escaped, 
wounded. 

The  Spaniards,  defeated,  were  forced  to  retreat  to  Punta  Brava; 
the  Cubans  recovered  the  body,  which  they  secretly  buried.  This  is 
the  story  from  the  best  sources  in  the  absence  of  official  reports. 
Thus  died  the  wonderful  mulatto,  the  most  illustrious,  perhaps,  of  his 
race,  superior  to  Toussaint  L'Ouverture.  His  public  life  was  conse 
crated  to  liberty ;  he  knew  no  vice  or  mean  action ;  he  would  not 
permit  any  around  him.  When  he  landed,  he  was  told  there  were  no 
arms.  "  I  will  get  them  with  my  machete,"  he  answered,  and  he  left 
5,000  to  his  country,  conquered  by  the  power  of  his  arm. 

He  was  modest :  when  some  young  flatterer  told  him :  t(  You  are 
by  right  the  general-in-chief,  because  you  were  the  last  to  surrender 
in  the  last  war,"  he  replied,  "  My  sword  can  never  compare  with 
that  of  General  Maximo  Gomez."  He  was  a  man  of  lofty  ideal : 
when  the  Spanish  press  propagated  the  calumny  that  he  was  aiming 
at  a  colored  republic,  he  sent  me  word  to  then  and  always  assert  over 
my  signature  that :  "  General  Maceo  is  neither  black  nor  white ;  he 
is  a  Cuban."  That  is  the  man,  a  Cuban,  and  for  that  reason  it  is  fit 
ting  that  General  Miro  should  have  saturated  his  handkerchief  with 
the  blood  of  the  patriot,  so  that  he  could  show  it  to  his  countrymen 
as  the  symbol  of  sacrifice,  and  that  it  may  serve  to  keep  them  alive 
to  their  duty  of  dying  like  the  hero,  Antonio  Maceo,  who  never  sur 
rendered  to  the  Spanish  tyrant ! 


574 


Description  of  the  Famous  Trocha — Inhuman  Treat 
ment  of  American  Citizens — Consul-General 
Lee's  Prompt  and  Resolute  Action. 


THE  peculiar  methods  of  warfare  adopted  by  the  Cuban  insurgents 
led  General  Weyler  to  construct  his  famous  barricade,  known 
as  the  trocha.  It  has  not  been  the  plan  of  the  Cuban  army 
ever  to  risk  a  great  battle  against  the  immense  army  of  Spain,  for  the 
reason  that  they  were  much  fewer  in  number,  and  for  a  long  time  were 
but  poorly  equipped  with  arms  and  ammunition.  Still,  with  their  cav 
alry  and  scattered  bands,  they  were  able  to  occupy  a  large  part  of  the 
Island,  and  even  to  threaten  the  city  of  Havana.  General  Weyler's 
plan  was  to  construct  a  trocha,  extending  from  a  point  on  the  North 
coast  to  the  Southern  coast,  thus  dividing  a  small  part  of  the  Island 
from  the  remainder.  The  Western  section,  known  as  the  Province  of 
Pinar  del  Rio,  could  then,  it  was  thought,  be  pacified,  and  the  insur 
gents  driven  out.  It  would  be  impossible  for  them  to  pass  the  trocha, 
and  they  could  be  pursued  and  captured.  The  reader  will  be  inter 
ested  in  a  description  of  this  formidable  barricade. 

The  trocha  is  a  cleared  space,  150  to  200  yards  wide,  which 
stretches  through  what  is  apparently  an  impassable  jungle  for  50 
miles.  The  trees,  which  have  been  cut  down  in  clearing  this  passage 
way,  have  been  piled  up  at  each  side  of  the  cleared  space  and  laid  in 
parallel  rows,  forming  a  barrier  of  tree  trunks  and  roots  and  branches 
higher  than  a  man's  head.  It  would  take  a  man  some  time  to  pick 
his  way  over  these  barriers,  and  a  horse  could  no  more  do  it  than  it 
could  cross  a  jam  of  floating  logs  in  a  river.  The  object  was  to 
make  the  obstacles  insurmountable  to  the  insurgent  cavalry,  and  to 
armed  bodies  of  infantry,  presenting  an  effectual  check  upon  the  trans 
portation  of  artillery,  and  in  fact  upon  all  their  offensive  movements. 
Between,  the  fallen  trees  lies  the  single  track  of  the  military  rail 
road,  and  on  one  side  of  that  are  the  line  of  forts,  and  a  few  feet 

575 


576  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

beyond  them  a  maze  of  barbed  wire.  Beyond  the  barbed  wire  again 
is  the  other  barrier  of  fallen  trees,  and  the  jungle.  In  its  unfinished 
state,  this  is  not  an  insurmountable  barricade.  Gomez  crossed  it  by 
daylight  with  600  men,  and  with  but  the  loss  of  27  killed,  and  as 
many  wounded.  Where  it  has  been  completed,  it  is  almost  impos 
sible  to  cross  it,  except  at  the  sacrifice  of  a  great  loss  of  life. 

Three  Styles  of  Forts. 

The  forts  are  of  three  kinds.  They  are  best  described  as  the  forts, 
the  block-houses  and  the  little  forts.  A  big  fort  consists  of  two 
stories,  with  a  cellar  below,  and  a  watch-tower  above.  It  is  made  of 
stone  and  adobe,  and  it  is  painted  a  glaring  white.  One  of  these  is 
placed  at  intervals  of  every  half  mile  along  the  trocha,  and  on  a  clear 
day  the  sentry  in  the  watch-tower  of  each  can  see  the  three  forts  on 
his  either  side. 

Midway  between  the  big  forts,  at  a  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  each,  is  a  block-house  of  two  stories,  with  the  upper  story  of 
wood,  overhanging  the  lower  foundation  of  mud.  These  are  placed 
at  right  angles  to  the  railroad,  instead  of  facing  it,  as  do  the  forts. 

Between  each  block-house  and  each  fort  are  three  little  forts  of 
mud  and  planks,  surrounded  by  a  ditch.  They  look  something  like 
a  farmer's  ice-house,  as  we  see  them  at  home,  and  they  are  about  as 
hot  inside  as  the  other  is  cold.  They  hold  five  men,  and  are  within 
hailing  distance  of  one  another.  Back  of  them  are  three  rows  of  stout 
wooden  stakes,  with  barbed  wire  stretching  from  one  row  to  the  other, 
interlacing  and  crossing  and  running  in  and  out  above  and  below, 
like  an  intricate  cats'  cradle  of  wire. 

A  Barbed- Wire  Barricade. 

One  can  judge  how  closely  knit  it  is  by  the  fact  that  to  every  twelve 
yards  of  posts  there  are  450  yards  of  barbed  fencing.  The  forts  are 
most  completely  equipped  in  their  way,  and  twelve  men  in  the  jungle 
would  find  it  quite  easy  to  keep  twelve  men  securely  imprisoned  in 
one  of  them  for  an  indefinite  length  of  time. 

The  walls  are  about  twelve  feet  high  with  a  cellar  below  and  a  vault 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA.  577 

above  the  cellar.  The  roof  of  the  vault  forms  a  platform,  around 
which  the  four  walls  rise  to  the  height  of  a  man's  shoulder.  There 
are  loopholes  for  rifles  in  the  sides  of  the  vault  and  where  the  platform 
joins  the  walls.  These  latter  allow  the  men  in  the  fort  to  fire  down 
almost  directly  upon  the  head  of  any  one  who  might  rush  up  close  to 
the  wall  of  the  fort,  and  where,  without  these  holes  in  the  floor,  it 
would  be  impossible  to  fire  on  him  except  by  leaning  far  over  the 
rampart. 

Above  the  platform  is  an  iron  or  zinc  roof,  supported  by  iron 
pillars,  and  in  the  centre  of  this  is  the  watch-tower.  The  only 
approach  to  the  fort  is  by  a  movable  ladder,  which  hangs  over  the 
side  like  the  gangway  of  a  ship  of  war  and  which  can  be  raised  by 
those  on  the  inside  by  means  of  a  rope  suspended  over  a  wheel  in 
the  roof.  The  opening  in  the  wall  at  the  head  of  the  ladder  is  closed 
at  the  time  of  an  attack  by  an  iron  platform,  to  which  the  ladder 
leads,  and  which  also  can  be  raised  by  a  pulley.  The  Spanish  hope 
to  have  calcium  lights  in  the  watch-towers  of  the  forts  with  sufficient 
power  to  throw  a  search-light  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  or  to  the  next 
block-house,  and  so  light  the  trocha  by  night  as  well  as  day.  With 
their  immense  army  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  do  this. 

Bomb  Death  Traps. 

As  a  further  protection  against  the  insurgents  the  Spaniards  have 
distributed  a  number  of  bombs  along  the  trocha.  These  are  placed 
at  those  points  in  the  trocha  where  the  jungle  is  less  thickly  grown, 
and  where  the  insurgents  might  be  expected  to  pass.  Each  bomb  is 
fitted  with  an  explosive  cap,  and  five  or  six  wires  are  attached  to  this 
and  staked  down  on  the  ground.  Any  one  stumbling  over  one  of 
these  wires  explodes  the  bomb  and  throws  a  charge  of  broken  iron 
to  a  distance  of  fifty  feet.  This,  in  brief,  was  General  Weyler's 
scheme  for  preventing  the  insurgents  roaming  at  will  from  one  end  of 
the  Island  to  the  other,  but  to  make  the  plan  effective  he  would  have 
to  construct  several  trochas,  which  would  be  an  almost  impossible 
task.  The  length  of  time  required  for  constructing  the  trocha,  and 
87 


578  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

the  necessity  of  watching  it  at  every  point,  has  led  military  officers 
to  doubt  whether  the  barricade  does  not  cost  more  than  it  is  worth. 

Outrages  Upon  American  Citizens. 

Much  excitement  was  caused  throughout  the  United  States  by  Wey- 
ler's  imprisonment  of  American  citizens,  alleging  that  they  were 
giving  aid  and  encouragement  to  the  Cuban  forces.  One  of  the 
prisoners,  whose  case  excited  universal  interest,  was  Dr.  Ricardo 
Ruiz,  who,  it  was  reported,  had  been  murdered  in  a  dungeon  at  Guana- 
bacoa.  He  was  for  five  years  a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  having  come 
from  Cuba  in*  1875,  at  the  time  when  the  former  war  was  rendering 
the  Island  a  place  almost  uninhabitable,  bringing  with  him  letters  of 
introduction  from  well-known  parties  in  Cuba.  He  studied  dentistry, 
and  in  1878  obtained  a  diploma  from  the  Pennsylvania  College  of 
Dental  Surgery.  After  having  practiced  his  profession  for  two  years 
he  returned  to  Cuba,  but  previous  to  this,  after  five  years'  residence 
in  the  United  States,  he  secured  naturalization  papers  and  became  an 
American  citizen.  He  settled  in  Guanabacoa  as  a  dentist,  and  mar 
ried  a  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  engaged  before  leaving  the  Island. 
All  accounts  go  to  show  that  he  was  a  man  of  peaceable  disposition. 

He  was  arrested  and  confined  in  prison  on  suspicion  of  sympathiz 
ing  with  the  insurgents,  where  he  remained  two  years,  when  his 
death  was  reported.  It  was  claimed  by  his  friends  that  he  had  died 
from  violence,  and  that  his  imprisonment  was  illegal,  as  he  had  never 
had  an  impartial  trial.  These  reports  created  indignation  in  the 
United  States,  which  the  Spanish  authorities  endeavored  to  allay  by 
affirming  that  an  examination  after  death  showed  that  Dr.  Ruiz  died 
from  natural  causes. 

The  Case  of  Julio  Sanguilly. 

Almost  immediately  came  a  report  that  another  American  citi 
zen  had  been  sentenced  to  imprisonment  for  life,  and  that,  too,  in 
direct  violation  of  our  treaty  with  Spain,  which  has  been  in  operation 
for  a  hundred  years,  and  therefore  has  all  the  sanction  of  time-hon 
ored  precedent.  This  treaty  specifies  the  tribunal  before  which  a 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA.  579 

person  charged  with  treason  shall  be  tried,  and  it  was  maintained  that 
the  provisions  of  the  compact  had  been  unjustly  set  aside  through  the 
operation  of  martial  law,  by  which  General  Weyler  was  attempting  to 
govern  Cuba. 

The  Committee  on  Foreign  Relations  in  the  United  States  Senate 
passed  a  resolution  demanding  the  immediate  release  of  Julio  San- 
guilly,  who  had  been  sentenced  to  life  imprisonment.  Hot  words 
were  uttered  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  and  much  bitter  feeling  was 
engendered  in  the  debate  which  followed  the  introduction  of  the  reso 
lution.  Notwithstanding  the  request  from  the  State  Department  to 
suspend  action  in  the  case  for  a  few  days,  the  Senators  took  the 
question  in  their  own  hands  and  proceeded  to  act.  A  multitude  of 
eager  listeners  were  present. 

The  United  States  Humiliated. 

Senator  Daniel,  of  Virginia,  took  the  floor  in  behalf  of  the 
adoption  of  the  resolution.  He  said:  "Two  years  ago  yesterday 
Julio  Sanguilly,  an  American  citizen,  was  thrown  into  prison.  Two 
years  have  gone  by,  and  this  government  has  done  practically  nothing 
for  this  citizen.  Great  Britain  would  have  released  him  as  soon  as 
one  of  her  battleships  could  reach  Havana.  He  has  been  brutally 
treated  and  condemned  on  unsworn  testimony  before  military  tribu 
nals.  This  country  and  all  civilization  have  been  disgraced  by 
the  treatment  meted  out  to  this  unfortunate  man.  Every  citizen  of 
this  country  would  have  patriotically  applauded  the  President  if  he 
had  sent  a  fleet  of  American  battleships  and  compelled  the  release  of 
this  American  citizen,  whose  country  has  been  insulted  by  the  treat 
ment  accorded  to  him  and  to  our  representative  in  Cuba." 

Senator  Gray,  of  Delaware,  said  he  was  informed  that  Sanguilly's 
counsel  had  withdrawn  his  appeal  to  Madrid  in  order  to  facilitate  his 
release.  Thereupon,  with  increased  force  and  manifestly  increased 
anger,  Senator  Daniel  said:  "  If  that  is  true,  it  is  a  humiliation  to  the 
United  States  that  one  of  her  citizens  has  been  compelled  by  sickness 
and  poverty,  and  delay  on  the  part  of  this  government,  to  withdraw 
his  appeal  for  justice,  in  order  to  secure  his  release  from  prison.  It 


580  LATEST   EVENTS    IN   CUBA. 

means  that  he  has  concluded  that  the  United  States  has  abandoned 
her  citizen,  her  legal  child,  and  that  he  despairs  of  justice.  His  ap 
peal  should  not  be  withdrawn.  The  people  of  this  country  should 
compel  his  unconditional  release." 

It  was  at  this  point  that  Senator  Frye,  of  Maine,  electrified  the 
Senate  by  saying :  "  If  Sanguilly's  counsel  has  withdrawn  the  appeal 
of  his  client,  he  has  done  an  unjust  act  which  is  inexcusable.  For, 
by  that  withdrawal,  he  leaves  Sanguilly  a  convicted  criminal,  liable  to 
imprisonment  for  life,  and  surrenders  for  Sanguilly  and  for  his  family 
all  claims  for  damages  against  Spain.  He  surrenders  all  that  Spain 
has  contended  for.  Here,  we  are  contending  that  Sanguilly  has  been 
unjustly  treated,  and  that  all  international  law  has  been  violated  in 
his  case,  when  his  discouraged  counsel  withdraws  his  appeal  for  jus 
tice.  If  I  had  my  way,  a  ship  of  war  would  start  immediately  to 
Havana  and  deliver  him." 

The  outbreak  in  the  galleries  was  such  as  has  not  been  paralleled 
in  years.  They  were  filled  with  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolu 
tion,  and  they  would  not  be  quieted.  Messengers  and  doorkeepers 
warned  them,  and  finally  had  to  force  some  of  them  into  their  seats 
that  order  might  be  restored.  Their  strong  sympathy  for  Cuba  was 
much  in  evidence. 

News  of  Sanguilly's  Release. 

Later  in  the  day  it  was  announced  that  the  government  at  Madrid, 
concluding  that  discretion  was  sometimes  better  than  valor,  had 
ordered  General  Weyler  to  release  Sanguilly.  This  had  a  tendency 
to  somewhat  allay  the  excitement,  yet  a  very  uneasy  feeling  and 
excited  state  of  the  public  mind  was  apparent,  which  a  breath  might 
inflame  into  a  wild  burst  of  indignation. 

General  Sanguilly  soon  arrived  at  Key  West.  He  was  made  a 
cripple  by  the  former  war,  and  he  now  appeared  to  be  in  an  enfeebled 
condition.  Before  he  descended  the  gang-plank  he  was  lifted  up  on 
the  shoulders  of  friends  and  conveyed  to  a  carriage.  In  reply  to  a 
request  for  a  speech,  he  said  he  was  too  fatigued  after  a  rough  sea 
voyage,  but  thanked  his  countrymen  for  the  hearty  welcome  accorded, 


LATEST  EVENTS   IN   CUBA.  581 

which  he  did  not  take  for  himself,  but,  he  said,  as  an  evidence  of  the 
loyalty  to  the  cause  dear  to  the  heart  of  every  Cuban. 

On  March  1st  the  President  transmitted  to  Congress  important 
dispatches  from  Consul-General  Lee,  including  telegrams  relating  to 
the  case  of  Charles  Scott.  These  awakened  unusual  interest  in  the 

Senate. 

On  February  2Oth  Mr.  Lee  telegraphed  as  follows  to  the  State  De 
partment  :  "  Charles  Scott,  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  arrested  at 
Regla.  No  charge  given.  He  has  been  without  communication  in 
jail  at  Havana  264  hours.  I  cannot  stand  another  Ruiz  murder,  and 
have  demanded  his  release.  How  many  war  vessels  at  Key  West  or 
within  reach,  and  will  they  be  ordered  here  at  once  if  necessary  to 
sustain  demand?" 

General  Lee  Threatens  to  Leave  Havana. 

On  the  23d  General  Lee  said  in  a  cable  message:  "Situation  sim 
ple.  Experience  at  Guanabacoa  made  it  my  duty  to  demand,  before 
too  late,  that  another  American  who  has  been  incommunicado  (with 
out  communication  with  friends)  264  hours,  be  released  from  said 
incommunicado,  and  did  so  in  courteous  terms.  If  you  support  it 
and  Scott  is  so  released,  the  trouble  will  terminate.  If  you  do  not  I 
must  depart.  All  others  arrested  with  Scott  have  been  put  in  com 
munication.  Why  should  the  only  American  in  the  lot  not  be?  He 
has  been  incommunicado  now  338  hours." 

Later  on  the  same  day,  the  23d  Feb.,  Mr.  Lee  wired :  "  Demand 
complied  with.  Scott  released  from  incommunicado  to-day,  on  de 
mand,  after  fourteen  days'  solitary  confinement  in  cell  five  feet  by 
eleven,  damp,  water  on  bottom  of  cell.  Not  allowed  anything  to  sleep 
on  or  chair.  Was  charged  with  having  Cuban  postage  stamps  in  the 
house.  Scott  says  he  went  always  twelve  hours  without  water ;  once 
two  days.  He  was  employee  of  the  American  Gas  Company." 

General  Lee's  determination  to  see  that  every  American  citizen  in 
Cuba  should  have  his  rights  fully  protected,  met  with  a  hearty  re 
sponse  from  all  classes  of  the  American  people. 


582  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

General  Weyler's  Career. 

General  Valeriano  Weyler  was  appointed  Captain-General  of  Cuba 
to  succeed  General  Martinez  Campos  in  January,  1896.  He  arrived 
in  Havana  February  loth,  and  took  the  oath  of  office  the  following 
day.  In  November  he  took  the  field  against  Maceo.  He  learned 
that  General  Maceo  was  in  the  western  part  of  Pinar  del  Rio.  Spanish 
journals  were  quite  certain  that  the  Cuban  leader  was  in  a  trap  from 
which  escape  was  impossible.  General  Weyler  marched  his  troops 
into  the  province  to  entrap  Maceo.  Other  forces  were  concentrated 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  military  line  of  Mariel  and  the  Batabano  Rail 
road.  The  Spanish  general,  however,  paid  no  attention  to  Gomez, 
the  rebel  commander-in-chief,  who  was  in  the  province  of  Havana. 

Ten  desperate  engagements  were  fought  in  the  space  of  fifteen 
days  after  the  actual  beginning  of  the  campaign,  and  in  none  did  the 
Spanish  gain  an  advantage.  After  the  battle  of  Neuva  Empressa  the 
Cuban  leader  had  little  difficulty  in  moving  his  men  wherever  he 
desired.  The  Spaniards  were  left  in  the  rear,  and  Maceo  again 
entered  Havana  province,  crossing  in  his  route  the  western  trocha 
near  Quivicar.  This  crossing  was  made  in  full  view  of  a  large 
Spanish  column  stationed  there  to  intercept  Maceo. 

After  a  succession  of  operations  in  which  General  Weyler  was  not 
successful  in  pacifying  the  western  provinces,  the  rainy  season  stopped 
further  progress  in  the  work  of  conquering  the  rebellion.  Then 
began  on  the  part  of  the  Spanish  Government  a  wonderful  movement 
of  reinforcements  to  the  Spanish  coast,  and  as  soon  as  a  propitious 
season  arrived  these  were  despatched  across  the  ocean  to  Cuba. 

With  the  troops  already  in  the  field  in  the  Island  the  force  at 
General  Weyler's  command  at  the  opening  of  the  fall  campaign  of 
1896-7  was  not  short  of  two  hundred  thousand  men.  Then  General 
Weyler  decided  to  take  the  field  in  person.  It  was  said  at  the  time 
that  he  had  been  ordered  to  do  so  by  the  Spanish  Government. 
This,  however,  was  denied.  General  Weyler  preceded  toward  the 
mountainous  region  of  Pinar  del  Rio.  He  made  his  headquarters 
near  the  line  of  the  main  railway  from  Havana  to  Pinar  del  Rio  city. 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN    CUBA.  583 

Thence  he  sent  out  columns  to  search  for  the  rebels,  but  he  was  not 
successful  in  finding  them  in  force,  nor  did  he  fight  any  decisive 
engagement. 

While  he  was  in  the  west  Maceo  met  his  death  at  the  hands  of 
Spanish  troops  under  Major  Cirujada.  When  General  Weyler  finally 
gave  up  active  operations  and  seated  himself  in  the  palace  at  Havana 
he  announced  that  Pinar  del  Rio  was  practically  free  from  rebel  bands. 
It  was  officially  announced  by  General  Weyler  on  January  n,  that 
three  provinces  were  practically  pacified,  and  then,  by  a  seeming  para 
dox,  he  took  the  field  again  on  January  19.  The  bulletins  issued  from 
the  Palace  announced  sweeping  victories  for  the  Spanish  in  Matanzas 
and  the  other  provinces  which  he  had  declared  pacified,  showing  that 
the  insurgents  there  were  still  active. 

The  last  personal  campaign,  like  the  first,  was  one  of  destruction, 
and  the  torch  played  an  important  part.  When  the  Captain-General 
left  Havana,  he  did  so  with  the  avowed  intention  of  meeting  General 
Gomez  in  Matanzas,  but  there  was  no  engagement  of  consequence. 
Gomez  eluded  the  Spanish  forces,  which  outnumbered  his  own  by 
several  thousand,  and  there  were  only  a  few  skirmishes.  In  all  of 
these  the  officials  in  the  Palace  in  Havana  claimed  victories  for  Spain^ 
with  heavy  losses  to  the  insurgents. 

General  Ruis  Rivera. 

This  veteran,  who  succeeded  General  Antonio  Maceo  in  the  com 
mand  of  the  Cuban  forces  in  the  province  of  Pinar  del  Rio,  was  born 
in  Puerto  Rico  in  1847.  General  Rivera  is  the  son  of  a  wealthy 
Spanish  family;  his  father  was  a  Spanish  colonel.  Young  Rivera 
was  sent  to  Spain  to  be  educated  as  a  lawyer.  When  the  revolution 
of  1868  broke  out,  he  was  studying  law  in  Barcelona;  he  gave  up  his 
college  career  and  sailed  for  Cuba. 

Rivera  fought  valiantly;  he  displayed  at  the  head  of  his  troops 
remarkable  ability.  When  the  ten  years  were  ended,  in  1878,  he  stood 
out  with  Maceo  in  his  refusal  to  accept  the  terms  of  the  treaty.  He 
left  the  Island  without  surrendering,  and  before  going  he  handed  his 
machete  to  Col.  Figueredo,  his  faithful  friend,  with  this  injunction : 


584  LATEST   EVENTS    IN   CUBA. 

"  This  is  my  true  weapon.  If  I  ever  return  to  Cuba  to  fight  for  her 
freedom,  you  shall  return  it  to  me.  If  you  ever  fight  with  it,  and  are 
forced  to  surrender  or  leave  the  fields  of  Cuba,  break  it  in  twain  and 
bury  it.  Let  it  never  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy." 

Rivera  saw  the  war  renewed  sixteen  years  after;  as  soon  as  he 
was  called  to  his  post  he  left  Honduras,  where  he  was  prosperous  in 
business;  he  took  an  expedition  to  Maceo,  which  materially  strength 
ened  the  patriots  in  the  west.  His  long  experience  and  his  splendid 
qualifications  have  made  him  conspicuous.  He  is  a  man  of  great 
personal  magnetism,  and  a  natural  successor  to  his  life-long  com 
panion,  General  Antonio  Maceo. 

The  Brave  General  Captured. 

It  was  the  fate  of  General  Rivera  soon  to  be  captured,  the  story  of 
which  is  dramatic.  General  Hernandez  Velasco  left  San  Cristobal 
under  secret  orders  at  noon  March  1 8th,  with  the  Castillo  Reina 
battalion  and  two  field  pieces  and  pitched  his  camp  amid  the  Brujito 
Hills.  The  insurgents  attacked  the  regulars  from  the  very  outset  of 
the  advance.  The  Spanish  column  marched  upon  Perico  Pozo, 
where  General  Ruiz  Rivera  awaited  them  in  a  strongly  entrenched 
position.  The  result  of  the  engagement  that  ensued  was  the  defeat 
of  the  insurgents  and  the  capture  of  General  Rivera. 

Rivera  opened  fire  immediately  on  seeing  the  head  of  the  column. 
Colonel  Jose  Roco  advanced  with  the  extreme  vanguard,  Major 
Sanchez  Bernal  leading  another  division  under  the  protection  of 
artillery,  which  shelled  the  trenches  held  by  Rivera,  who  was  already 
wounded  in  the  thigh. 

One  company  of  the  cavalry  galloped  forward,  capturing  the 
trenches  and  seizing  as  prisoners  five  men  who  lay  severely  mutilated 
by  the  shells.  Colonel  Bacallao,  on  learning  that  Rivera  had  been 
wounded,  hurried  to  the  trenches  and  begged  the  soldiers  not  to  kill 
him.  Rivera  and  Colonel  Bacallao  were  taken  into  the  presence  of 
General  Velasco,  who  shook  hands  with  Rivera  and  introduced  him 
to  the  officers  of  his  staff,  giving  instructions  that  the  first  thing  to 
be  done  was  to  give  him  surgical  relief.  Lieutenant  Terry  and 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA.  585 

Colonel  Bacallao  were  also  wounded  in  a  fight  at  the  same  place  on 
March  I5th. 

The  Castillo  battalion  secured  important  documents  as  well  as  the 
arms  and  money  of  General  Ruiz  Rivera.  The  money  consisted 
mostly  of  American  gold  coin.  A  number  of  splendid  watches  were 
left  with  General  Velasco.  The  villagers  of  San  Cristobal,  who  went 
out  to  receive  the  small  column  of  Spanish  troops,  enthusiastically 
cheered  the  victors. 

He  was  Accorded  the  Honors  of  War. 

General  Rivera,  who  remained  quietly  in  prison,  eulogized  the 
escort  of  Spanish  soldiers.  He  said  the  troops  treated  him  with  the 
greatest  consideration.  He  also  said  the  families  of  the  insurgents 
in  the  camp  of  the  Cubans  were  in  a  critical  situation.  They  suffered 
greatly  from  hunger,  and  were  compelled  to  go  out  in  search  of 
vegetables  whenever  it  was  possible  to  avoid  the  Spanish  troops.  The 
insurgents  were  well  supplied  with  meat,  but  had  no  spices. 

General  Rivera  would  say  nothing  concerning  the  war  or  Cuban 
political  matters.  When  asked  his  name  by  General  Velasco,  Rivera 
replied,  and  made  the  following  request : 

"  Give  me  the  honors  of  war  and  stretch  out  to  me  your  hand." 

Rivera  afterward  conversed  with  some  of  the  chief  officers,  and 
offered  them  tips  for  services  rendered.  Velasco,  noticing  this,  said: 
"  Soldiers  need  not  money,  but  honor,  which  they  have." 

One  of  the  shells  exploded  in  the  insurgent  camp,  wounding  many 
members  of  Rivera's  staff.  Rivera  himself  received  a  Mauser  ball, 
which  caused  three  serious  wounds  in  the  thigh.  The  moment  the 
Spanish  infantry  entered  the  trenches  Colonel  Bacallao  raised  General 
Rivera  on  his  shoulders  as  if  to  carry  him  off.  After  his  capture  General 
Rivera,  speaking  of  the  Spanish  soldiery,  said:  "They  have  treated 
me  very  carefully."  He  complained  much  of  the  pain  of  his  wounds. 

Captain-General  Weyler  received  the  news  of  Rivera's  capture  at 
Cienfuegos,  where  the  intelligence  was  loudly  cheered.  The  Captain- 
General  was  described  as  "  satisfied  "  with  the  result,  and  received 
cablegrams  of  congratulations  from  the  Spanish  Minister  of  War  and 


586  LATEST   EVENTS    IN    CUBA. 

the  Spanish  Premier,  who  congratulated  him  in  the  name  of  the 
Queen  of  Spain.  Lieutenant  Henry  Terry  died  from  his  wounds. 
He  was  a  naturalized  American. 

President  McKinley  on  the  Cuban  Situation. 

The  long-standing  case  of  Cuba  again  came  to  the  front  in  the 
United  States  Senate  on  May  17.  President  McKinley  gave  the  first 
indication  of  his  policy  by  a  special  message  asking  Congress  to 
appropriate  $50,000  for  the  relief  of  suffering  Americans  in  Cuba. 
The  President's  message  read  thus  : 

"  Official  information  from  our  Consuls  in  Cuba  establishes  the  fact 
that  a  large  number  of  American  citizens  in  the  island  are  in  a  state 
of  destitution,  suffering  for  want  of  food  and  medicines.  This  applies 
particularly  to  the  rural  districts  of  the  central  and  eastern  parts. 

"  The  agricultural  classes  have  been  forced  from  their  farms  into 
the  nearest  towns  where  they  are  without  work  or  money.  The 
local  authorities  of  the  several  towns,  however  kindly  disposed,  are 
unable  to  relieve  the  needs  of  their  own  people,  and  are  altogether 
powerless  to  help  our  citizens.  The  latest  report  of  Consul-General 
Lee  estimates  that  600  to  800  are  without  means  of  support.  I  have 
assured  him  that  provision  would  be  made  at  once  to  relieve  them. 
To  that  end  I  recommend  that  Congress  make  an  appropriation  of 
not  less  than  $50,000,  to  be  immediately  available  for  use  under  the 
direction  of  the  Secretary  of  State. 

"  It  is  desirable  that  a  part  of  the  sum  which  may  be  appropriated 
by  Congress  should,  in  the  discretion  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  also 
be  used  for  the  transportation  of  American  citizens  who,  desiring  to 
return  to  the  United  States,  are  without  means  to  do  so." 

The  public  interest  in  the  subject  was  shown  by  the  great  crowds 
which  besieged  the  galleries  throughout  the  day.  Among  the  occu 
pants  of  the  diplomatic  gallery  were  Sir  Julian  Pauncefote,  the  British 
Ambassador,  and  Minister  Hatch,  of  Hawaii,  and  in  the  reserved  gal 
lery  were  General  Dan  Sickles,  ex-United  States  Minister  to  Spain. 
Neither  the  Spanish  Legation  nor  the  Cuban  Bureau  in  Washington 
was  represented  in  the  galleries,  so  far  as  could  be  observed. 


588  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

Two  phases  of  the  subject  were  presented.  First  came  the  ques 
tion  of  relief  to  destitute  and  starving  Americans  in  Cuba.  This 
was  presented  in  the  President's  message  as  soon  as  the  session 
opened.  Immediately  following  the  reading  of  the  message,  Mr. 
Davis,  chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Foreign  Relations,  presented  a 
favorable  report  on  the  joint  resolution  originally  introduced  by  Mr. 
Gallinger,  appropriating  $50,000  for  the  relief  of  American  citizens 
in  Cuba.  There  was  only  one  brief  speech — from  Mr.  Gallinger — 
and  then  the  resolution  went  through  by  unanimous  vote,  there  being 
no  response  to  the  call  for  nays.  It  took  exactly  eighteen  minutes 
for  the  reading  of  the  message,  the  presentation  of  the  committee 
report,  the  brief  speech  and  the  final  passage  of  the  resolution. 

A  New  Departure. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  the  resolution  was  passed  without 
dissent. 

Speaking  of  the  President's  message,  one  of  our  leading  journals 
commented  as  follows  :  "  It  is  an  essentially  new  departure  in  inter 
national  affairs,  and  it  is  in  order  for  the  sticklers  for  precedent  to 
enter  fussy  protestation,  as  they  did  in  connection  with  the  Venezu 
elan  question,  against  the  Monroe  doctrine,  declaring  that  it  was  not 
to  be  found  in  the  code  of  international  law.  It  is  certainly  very 
unusual,  if  not  unprecedented,  for  the  Government  to  make  a  relief 
appropriation  for  its  own  people  in  some  foreign  land.  The  truth  is, 
this  Cuban  situation  is  wholly  exceptional.  Here  is  a  little  island  in 
a  state  of  civil  war.  It  is  largely  a  sectional  war,  one  part  of  the 
island  being  in  possession  of  one  of  the  belligerents  and  the  other 
section  in  the  possession  of  the  other  belligerent. 

"  Several  hundreds  of  our  American  citizens  are  in  that  section  of 
the  island  occupied  by  Spanish  armies,  and  are  suffering,  in  common 
with  the  Cubans  themselves,  from  a  deliberate  policy  of  starvation. 
Weyler  is  trying  to  conquer  by  famine.  That  is  his  fixed  purpose, 
and,  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  no  discrimination  is  made  between 
Spanish  subjects  in  rebellion  and  American  citizens  sojourning  in  the 
island.  If  the  policy  of  starvation  can  not  be  maintained  without 


LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA.  689 

this  indiscrimination,  then  so  much  the  worse  for  Weyler  and  his 
policy.  Congress  has  only  to  make  the  appropriation  asked  for,  and 
the  relief  will  go  forward,  without  regard  to  any  collateral  conse 
quences." 

The  second  phase  of  the  Cuban  subject  came  up  in  the  Senate 
when  the  Morgan  resolution,  declaring  that  a  state  of  war  exists  in 
Cuba,  was  taken  up.  Mr.  Wellington,  the  new  senator  from  Mary 
land,  came  forward  for  his  initial  speech  in  the  Senate,  making  a  vig 
orous  protest  against  the  resolution,  on  the  ground  that  it  threatened 
war  with  Spain.  He  said  the  first  duty  of  Congress  was  to  pass  the 
tariff  bill.  The  senator  condemned  "jingoism,"  and  gave  his  indorse 
ment  to  President  Cleveland's  conservatism  on  the  Cuban  question. 

Warm  Words  in  Behalf  of  Cuba. 

Senator  Daniel,  of  Virginia,  said  the  senator  from  Maryland  (Wel 
lington)  had  "  taken  a  shot  at  creation  "  while  presumably  discussing 
the  pending  resolution.  He  had  gone  into  the  tariff,  currency,  the 
late  and  the  present  administrations  in  their  various  ramifications. 
Mr.  Daniel  asserted  that  the  Maryland  senator  entirely  misappre 
hended  the  resolution  in  declaring  that  it  involved  hostility  to  Spain. 
In  sarcastic  tones  Mr.  Daniel  referred  to  Mr.  Wellington's  statement 
that  some  debt  of  gratitude  existed  because  Spain  had  produced  a 
Christopher  Columbus.  "  It  were  better  had  there  been  no  Colum 
bus,"  said  Mr.  Daniel,  "  if  America  was  to  continue  a  savagery  that 
prevailed  here  before  the  country  was  discovered."  The  senator  then 
took  up  the  legal  questions  involved  in  the  recognition  of  belligerency. 

After  concluding  his  legal  argument  on  the  powers  of  Congress 
and  the  President,  Mr.  Daniel  branched  to  the  general  subject  of 
Cuba,  and  again  aroused  the  keenest  attention  by  his  vigorous  words. 
The  diplomacy  of  Spain  had  succeeded  for  two  and  one-half  years, 
he  said,  in  blinding  American  diplomacy  in  the  belief  that  war  did 
not  exist  in  Cuba.  But  the  world  knew  that  war  existed  there,  high 
handed,  red-handed,  bloody,  cruel  war.  It  is  a  war  in  which  Spain 
employs  more  troops  than  England  employed  in  seeking  to  put  down 
the  American  revolution. 


590  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

And  yet  senators  were  met  with  the  statement  that  a  recognition 
of  a  state  of  war  in  Cuba  would  be  inimical  to  Spain.  He  denied 
that  the  recognition  of  an  existing  fact  could  be  construed  as  a  hos 
tile  act,  but  in  any  event  the  fact  should  be  recognized  and  the  great 
influence  of  the  United  States  thrown  toward  the  cause  of  civilized 
and  Christian  usage.  It  might  subject  some  American  vessels  to 
search,  but  this  would  be  a  small  matter  compared  with  the  results 
achieved.  It  might  give  Spain  a  right  to  blockade  Cuba,  but  in  that 
Spain  would  suffer  more  than  the  United  States. 

A  Calamity  Greater  than  War. 

"  It  is  said  this  means  war,"  continued  Mr.  Daniel.  "  I  deny  it. 
If  Spain  should  declare  war  against  us  because  we  recognized  the 
belligerency  of  her  former  subjects,  who  had  carried  on  a  war  for  two 
and  one-half  years,  she  would  have  an  unjust  cause  of  complaint  and 
war  against  us,  and  we  will  have  a  just  cause  of  complaint  and  war 
against  her.  I  do  not  wish  to  see  the  American  people  involved  in 
war.  I  look  upon  war  as  one  of  the  greatest  calamities  that  can  befall 
a  people.  But  it  is  a  greater  calamity  for  the  high  public  spirit  of  a 
great  nation  to  be  so  deadened  that  it  can  look  upon  murder  and 
arson  and  pillage  with  indifference  and  for  the  public  spirit  of  that 
nation  to  be  so  dead  as  to  delay  one  instant  in  doing  an  act  of  justice 
because  of  fear  of  war." 

During  the  debate  Senator  Mason,  of  Illinois,  made  a  bold,  patri 
otic  and  eloquent  speech,  denouncing  Spanish  atrocities  in  Cuba. 
The  inhuman  barbarities  inflicted  upon  innocent  people,  the  savage 
attacks  made  upon  them  and  their  expulsion  from  their  own  homes, 
condemned  to  suffering  and  starvation,  were  depicted  in  burning 
language.  Among  other  things  he  said:  "  Here  is  the  proof  in  the 
communication  of  the  President,  stating  that  800  citizens  of  the 
United  States  have  been  driven  from  their  homes,  and  are  destitute. 
Who  forced  them  there?  Was  it  the  Insurgents?  Then,  there  is 
war  in  Cuba.  Was  it  the  Spaniards  ?  Then,  if  there  is  no  war,  there 
ought  to  be,  and  with  us.  Eight  hundred  Americans  driven  from 
home  starving,  and  still  some  senators  say  it  is  not  much  of  a  war." 


LATEST   EVENTS    IN   CUBA.  591 

Again  and  again  the  galleries  broke  into  loud  applause  as  the 
sturdy  Senator  expressed  in  eloquent  terms  the  feeling  of  the  Ameri 
can  people.  The  excitement  was  at  white  heat;  handkerchiefs 
waved ;  cheers  burst  forth  that  could  not  be  repressed. 

Senator  Foraker,  of  Ohio,  produced  an  unpublished  letter  of  Secre 
tary  Olney,  addressed  to  the  Spanish  government  in  April,  1896,  in 
which  the  President  offered  to  Spain  the  mediation  of  the  United 
States  to  bring  the  war  to  a  close,  which  was  firmly  refused  by  the 
Spanish  government,  who  stated,  through  their  minister  at  Washing 
ton,  that  there  was  no  effectual  way  to  pacify  the  Cubans  except 
upon  the  condition  that  they  should  first  submit  to  the  mother 
country. 

The  Morgan  Resolution. 

Mr.  Foraker's  speech  was  delivered  with  much  warmth  and  earnest 
ness.  Several  of  his  well-rounded  periods,  in  which  sympathy  was 
expressed  with  the  struggling  Cubans,  and  in  which  the  cruelties  and 
barbarities  of  the  Spanish  military  forces  were  denounced,  called 
forth  demonstrations  from  the  galleries. 

The  Morgan  resolution  declared  :  "  That  a  condition  of  public  war 
exists  between  the  Government  of  Spain  and  the  Government  pro 
claimed  and  for  some  time  maintained  by  force  of  arms  by  the  people 
of  Cuba,  and  that  the  United  States  of  America  shall  maintain  a  strict 
neutrality  between  the  contending  parties,  according  to  each  all  the 
rights  of  belligerents  in  the  ports  and  territory  of  the  United 
States." 

The  resolution  received  in  its  favor  the  votes  of  1 8  Republicans, 
19  Democrats,  and  4  Populists;  12  Republicans  and  2  Democrats 
voted  against  it — a  total  vote  of  41  to  14. 

Early  in  May  President  McKinley  sent  Hon.  W.  J.  Calhoun,  of 
Illinois,  as  a  special  commissioner  to  Cuba,  who  was  charged  pri 
marily  with  helping  Consul-General  Lee  to  investigate  the  circum 
stances  surrounding  the  death  of  Dr.  Albert  Ruiz  in  a  Spanish  prison. 
The  Spanish  government  was  represented  by  Dr.  Congosto,  Spanish 
Consul  at  Philadelphia.  Under  date  of  May  28th  a  reliable  corres 
pondent  in  Cuba  made  public  the  following  communication : 


592  LATEST   EVENTS   IN   CUBA. 

"  There  will  be  trouble  over  the  Ruiz  investigation.  In  fact,  there 
has  been  trouble  already.  It  will  be  set  down  in  the  future  as  an 
irritant  in  the  relations  between  Spain  and  the  United  States,  whereas 
President  McKinley  built  hope  of  another  kind  upon  it. 

"  In  ten  days  the  joint  commission,  of  which  General  Lee  and  Dr. 
Congosto  are  the  heads,  has  had  exactly  one  session,  which  had  little 
result  beyond  showing  General  Lee  and  Mr.  Calhoun  how  little  they 
might  expect. 

"  The  delay  has  been  caused  by  Dr.  Congosto  on  the  flimsiest  pre 
text,  and  the  Spanish  representative,  too,  by  talking  recklessly  about 
General  Lee,  and  other  Consuls  came  within  an  ace  of  being  told 
that  the  American  representatives  would  have  nothing  more  to  do 
with  him  personally  and  officially. 

Dr.  Ruiz  in  His  Cell. 

"  Ruiz  died,  according  to  the  surgeons,  from  congestion  of  the 
brain,  caused  by  a  blow  or  blows.  When  General  Lee  and  Mr.  Cal 
houn  visited  the  jail  in  Guanabacoa,  they  were  shown  the  cell  in 
which  the  Spanish  say  that  Ruiz  died. 

"  The  guard  explained  to  General  Lee  and  Mr.  Calhoun  that  he 
heard  thumping  on  the  inside  of  the  door,  and  when  he  opened  it 
and  went  in,  Ruiz  was  running  at  the  heavy  door  and  butting  it  with 
his  head. 

"  Ruiz  had  only  one  wound  on  the  top  of  his  head.  Had  he  butted 
this  door,  as  the  jailor  says  he  did,  his  scalp  must  necessarily  have 
been  lacerated  in  several  places. 

"  The  American  representatives  have  decided  that  they  will  not  ask 
a  single  question  of  the  guards  if  they  are  called,  feeling  it  absurd  to 
waste  time  on  them  under  the  circumstances.  Dr.  Congosto  has 
been  told  plainly  that  from  all  that  is  known  the  testimony  of  these 
men  would  not  be  received  in  any  court  in  the  United  States,  unless 
they  were  prisoners  and  chose  to  speak  in  their  own  defence. 

"  The  Americans  asked  for  the  official  record  of  the  arrest  of  Ruiz 
and  the  charges  made  against  him.  Dr.  Congosto  said  that  the 
record  was  in  Madrid.  It  has  not  been  furnished." 


RETURN     CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 

TO—  ^      202  Main  Library 

LOAN  PERIOD  1 
HOME  USE 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 

Renewals  and  Recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  the  due  date. 

Books  may  be  Renewed  by  calling     642-3405. 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 


s. 


Y 

A     MAR  1  3  1986 

A      lflHf\  A  O    ww 

X             •  WPS 

wm 

OT 

<X       CIRCULAHON  H 

5^ 

ir  »» 

M 

| 

Jk 

• 

JQ    ^H|l  2C04 

f 

J' 

fa     JAN  -  5  2003 

^ 

i  A  M  *)  s    onn/i 

A      JAN  ^  «>    ^UU4 

^^ 

FORM  NO.  DD67 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 

BERKELEY,  CA  94720 

®$ 


GENERAL  LIBRARY  -  U.C.  BERKELEY 


